The Phantom Ship

On the 15th of August 1893 three men from Killimer Tommy O Loughlin Tom Nugent and Pat O Connell decided to take a trip by boat down the river to Glin, Labasheeda being passed on the way. They wanted to be back in Knock for a gathering by nine o clock. The left the village about eight o clock and started rowing up the river.  When they were in mid-river they met a boat. It was a pretty long rowing boat and there was about 20 boys and girls all young and happy and they were playing instruments and laughing and talking.  The boys just passed by and soon reached the village. They told the people of their meeting.  The next morning news reached the people of Killimer of the drowning of the Kerry people on their way across. The drowning took place before half eight the time when those 22 year old boys had seen the boat. No other boat was on the river at that time. Had the young people really returned from the dead?   Until recent times no parishioner would go swimming on the 15th of August or no boat owner would put his boat on the water. 

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