Today Thursday 24th February marks the 75 anniversary of what was termed the “Big Snow of ’47”.
On the 24th February 1947 Ireland was hit with one of the biggest snowfalls ever seen in the country with conditions similar to what we are experiencing at present.
An artic cold wind blew for many weeks before the faithful night leading many to believe something strange was about to happen.
The snow started falling on the Monday evening and came down heavy all day and all night resulting in the town being cut off for many days from the rest of the world.
In fact it was over 40 days before the snow cleared.
There are still many stories told of heroism, bravery and dedication during the ’47 blizzard and none more so than that of Postman John Gormley who left Boyle Post Office on the Tuesday morning by bike with his delivery for the Curlew Mountains.
Half way up Brislagh Hill John abandoned his bike such was the depth of snow and got on with his job by foot.
Tuesday evening came and there was still no sign of John.
A search party departed to locate him but to no avail. Thursday then Friday passed and John’s family feared the worst but on Saturday morning an apparition appeared on the Crescent and a shaken John emerged from the drifts.
It transpired he collapsed in the line of duty around Cloonloo and was taken in by a farmer until he was strong enough to walk back to Boyle.
Lough Key also froze over and a game of ice hockey took place on Kearn’s Bay in Erris. This was the first time the lake froze since 1939.
There was concern also for a passenger bus travelling from Sligo but it finally arrived in Boyle with all passengers safe and well.
The first photograph shows Martin McLoughlin (3rd) and Paddy Purcell (5th) carrying the post from Boyle station to Ballymote.
Boyletoday.com main photograph shows the “Missing Bus” as it made it’s way into Boyle in 1947.
The other photographs were taken in St Patrick’s Street at the time. with one showing Luke Mullaney’s where Cosgrove’s now stands. Luke was an uncle of the late Paschal Mullaney.
(Pics are copyright of Boyletoday.com and can strictly not be reproduced without permission)
