Ballinacourty on 15 February 1900, carrying coal for Dungarvan from Newport. ‘The Eliza O’Keeffe became a complete wreck at the mouth of Dungarvan Bay on the morning of March 9th, 1900, during a raging snowstorm, at 3.30 am. She was skippered by Capt. John Flynn and crewed by Augie Dower, Pat Grant and a young Dungarvan lad who ran away barefoot to sea from his home in 1899, John Roche. Captain Flynn was attempting to enter the harbour, but, due to the prevailing weather conditions, his vessel was blown onto the rocks at the mouth of the harbour. The lifeboat crews had watched with anxiety as they observed the Eliza O’Keeffe as she headed for disaster during the heavy snowstorm. Without a thought for their own safety, they rowed out into the blizzard to attempt to rescue the crew. With experienced hands pulling on the oars, they soon reached the foundering vessel and successfully rescued the four men’ (Young). This ship did some Mediterranean trade in early years and voyaged to Vera Cruz, South and North America under Captain Kennedy in 1863. Captain Eastaway would have been one of two brothers from Swansea, Captain William (b.1815) or Captain Benjamin (b.1825). They previously captained Pretty Maggie and Ballinacurra Lass. Two younger Eastaways were born in Youghal, Captain Henry (b.1841) and Captain William (b.1846), but they were engaged elsewhere at this time. Henry Eastaway (b.1841) would be Youghal Harbour Master in 1881. Captain William Ryan, who obtained his Master Certificate (Cert: 9900) in Cork, would have been the Captain W Ryan in Lloyd’s. Captain William Kennedy is identified through his Certificate number (#9498). Captain John Mathias had to renew his Master Certificate when his clothes and papers were stolen from his cabin on Eliza O’Keeffe while at Newport in August 1870. He lived in Ballinacurra and would captain Victor of Youghal in the 1880s.Captain Patrick Walsh would next be Master of Gorman’s brigantine the Ariel for several years. Mate John Power, who obtained his Mate Certificate of Competency in 1851, was identified by his certificate number (2705) on the 1873 IMNCL report. Mate James Prendergast would soon captain Fleming’s schooner, the Eliza Edwards . Mate (future Captain) Thomas O’Grady renewed his Certificate in 1881 stating: ‘T he said Certificate destroyed at Garston [Merseyside] by rats on board the SS Gladiator sometime last week. I may here state that the Gladiator has
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