The Cruise Of The Jacknell
On April 12th 1867 a ship called 'Jacknell' left New York bound for Ireland. The men on board hoped to assist in a Fenian rising. These Fenians were captured as the waded ashore at Helvick outside Dungarvan. In this article we reproduce part of a book that recorded the exploits of the 'Jacknell' and her crew. The book is called 'The Dock And The Scaffold' and was published in Dublin by A. M. Sullivan, Abbey Street in 1868. The first part of the book concerns itself with the 'Manchester Tragedy' when Three Fenians were hung after being tried for attempting to help Thomas Kelly(a leading Fenian), escape from a prison van in Manchester. The second part of the book is called 'The Cruise Of The Jacknell' and is reproduced here in it's entirety with original illustrations.
The Fenian Landing At Helvic
On the road overlooking Helvic pier stands a monument commemorating the landing of the American Fenians in 1867. It was unveiled in 1955 by Cathleen Clarke, wife of the 1916 leader, Tom Clarke. The tradition of republicanism lived on in the Ring area and na Finini are remembered with pride. That may not be generally known, however, is the accidental nature of the Helvic landings and the fact that no guns actually came on shore.
