A visit to the home of the Bolgers provided much information about life spent working on the river boats. John worked with his brother, his uncle and his father. Previously his father had worked as skipper on the steam-ship “Nasse” and the “Lady Annetta”. His father was the only person to get a pension from the Barrow Navigation Company. Both John and Nancy had many stories about their father, including one involving two local Volunteers to whom he gave shelter during the War of Independence. Nancy showed me a photograph taken in 1904 of the local football team, the year they won the County Championship. Most of the team were local Barrowmen. This was a very enlightening and entertaining visit.
Keywords: river boats, navigation, steam ship, War of Independence,