The SS Belturbet sailed the Erne in the hay days of the Countess of Erne
THE “Countess of Erne”, the first paddle steamer to sail the Erne over 175 years ago, will be remembered at a talk in Newtownbutler this week.
Brian Osborne from Lough Erne Heritage, who has been researching the steam boat, will give the talk to the Newtownbutler History Society this coming Tuesday, January 30, at 8pm.
Having arrived on the lough with great fanfare just days before Christmas in 1842, the Countess of Erne first sailed from Wattlebridge, stopping off at Crom, and then on to Lisnaskea, to the amazement of the lough shore people who had never witnessed a steam boat before. It then sailed from Belturbet to Enniskillen daily until June 1846, when it sadly sank after a fire.
The Countess was owned by the legendary canal and railway engineer William Dargan, he and his invited guests of the local gentry enjoyed its inaugural trip on that winters day in December 1842.
It had a chequered career on the water and Brian has carried out extensive research into its life and will outline it in his talk in Newtownbutler.
With the link with Crom and Wattlebridge a good crowd is expected on the night and everyone is welcome.
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