t;Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-US">In the past the harbour was a busy hub of activity with
numerous fishing vessels as well as a location to export locally quarried
Liscannor Stone and to receive in supplies e.g. coal. However historical
documents note that due to the silting of the harbour, ships could only carry
approximately 380 tonnes into port. At low tides ships had to be winched into
harbour. A currach would bring the rope out to the ship. There was often
rivalry between boats to be the first to the ship. The harbour life boat was a
large heavy wooden rowing boat, manned by members of the Coastguard Station
(behind the Lower Quay). John P Holland’s father was “Head Boatman”. It was
raised and lowered by winch in the boat house. Locally quarried flag was cut
and polished beside the harbour and winched onto ships by steam crane. These
slabs were transported to various British cities (Glasgow, Manchester, etc.)
for use as pavement slabs. The haulage company who transported these flags was
called ‘Watsons’.
Coal was delivered directly to Liscannor up until the mid
1960s for Griffins coal yard in Ennistymon. However in the mid 1960s a boat ran
aground just outside the harbour and sank. The insurance became too expensive,
and coal was then delivered to Clare castle and subsequently delivered to
Ennistymon for distribution. The harbour was built in 1825-31 for £2,900, of
which £2,000 was a government grant.
