Unsinkable Colleen Bawn

A report from over 150 years ago on the exploits of the Colleen Bawn, a truly remarkable ship under the guidance of Capt Laurence Branigan.

‘1865: Perhaps the most extraordinary passage on record by an Irish steamer against the; fury of a violent storm, are those which have just been accomplished by “The Colleen Bawn” of Drogheda ‘ port, Captain Laurence Branigan commanding.

Slhe left Liverpool on Sunday morning at twenty minutes past twelve and arrived at Drogheda Quays that day at a quarter to one, towing the Schooner “Mary Stewart” of Dundalk, coal-laden which had become disabled at se, having lost all of her canvas, stanchions and bulwarks. On Sunday night, “The Colleen Bawn , again left Drogheda with a cargo, and a telegram from Liverpool announced that she was the first Irish steamer which arrived at the pier-head at Liverpool, where she discharged her freight, the dock gates not being open at the time.’