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John Kelly (belfast) now Kelly Fuels

54K views 109 replies 48 participants last post by  PeePee 
#1 ·
hello!

anyone out there an expert on the John Kelly costal colliers.....??? the company is now Kelly Fuels with no vessels (altho' they have a gallery on their website where one can order paintings of certain vessels). i would be interested to know what became of the 'Ballymena' and 'Ballylesson' which were around in the early 60's
 
#31 ·
Kelly ships

Rory, I had'nt given much attention to the 1st. "MAY", but now realise that I can answer your question. ----- ------ 1st. - "MAY" Built by Fullerton,Paisley, for Captain T.Burns, Wm.Dunn and T. Matthews, Bangor.(T.Mattews managing owner) in 1898. 1915 Sold to T.Collier, Bray,Co. Wicklow. 1915 Sold to Kynoch Arklow Ltd; London. Summer 1919 Sold to J.Kelly, Belfast, ( with the "ELLER", "GLENARM" and "RIVER AVOCA" and all four sold on in the autumn to Samuel B.Stevenson, Derry.) He renamed her "SILVERSPRINGS". 1928 Sold to Wilson and Reid,Belfast. I930 Sold to P.Berrill,Bristol. 1935 Scrapped Briton Ferry. Official no. 108625. 130' x 21' x 9'.5''. 261gt. 50hp. Ian Wilsons "Kelly History" was published in the July to Nov. 1980 issues of Sea Breezes. All the best, Charley.
 
#33 ·
Kelly and McCowan Boats

Hello Charley;

Thanks for the wealth of information on the various aspects and characters involved with John Kelly operations. I am very familiar with the Sutton family in Cork, but did not know of the connection with Kelly in Belfast.

The R. McCowan [ some spelling McCowen] is a new one, and I think I stumbled upon another vessel for him - Derrymore. The material so far has come from Miramar and the Clydeside sites two great places online for research. Any comment anyone might add to the ships "I Think" might be the correct ones will be most appreciated.

Cheers,
Rory


Single Ship Report for "GLENARM"
IDNo: 1119143 Name: GLENARM Year: 1904
Builder: Bow McLachlan Country of build: Link: 1581 Ship Design:
Location of yard: Paisley Yard No: 175
Keel: Launch Date: 16.6.04 Date of completion: 6.04
Type: Cargo ship Tons: 300 Naval or paramilitary marking : DWT:
Length overall: LPP: 40.5 Beam: 7.0 Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn): 1C-10 Material of build:
Owner as Completed: Eglinton Limestone Co Ltd, Glasgow Flag: UK
Subsequent History:
20 ROSSGARRAGH - 27 ISLESMAN
Disposal Data:
BU Nieuw Lekkerland 6.55

LYCIDAS(1904)
LYCIDAS

built by John Fullerton & Company Paisley,
Yard No 175

Built: 1904
Ship Type: unspecified
Owner History:
Ritson & Co



Single Ship Report for "RIVER AVOCA"
IDNo: 1128493 Name: RIVER AVOCA Year: 1909
Builder: Fullerton Country of build: Link: 1582 Ship Design:
Location of yard: Paisley Yard No: 210
Keel: Launch Date: 20.4.09 Date of completion: 4.09
Type: Cargo ship Tons: 322 Naval or paramilitary marking : DWT:
Length overall: LPP: 43.3 Beam: 7.2 Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn): 1C- Material of build:
Owner as Completed: Despatch S.S.Co Ltd (J.Tyrrell), Cardiff Flag: UK
Subsequent History:
14 EDENSIDE - 16 RIVER AVOCA - 20 GLENCREGAGH
Disposal Data:
wrecked Vazon Bay, Guernsey 3.6.29

Single Ship Report for "ELLER"
IDNo: 16362 Name: ELLER Year: 1896
Builder: Fullerton Country of build: Link: 1582 Ship Design:
Location of yard: Paisley Yard No: 129
Keel: Launch Date: 27.3.96 Date of completion: 4.96
Type: Cargo ship Tons: 243 Naval or paramilitary marking : DWT:
Length overall: LPP: Beam: Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn): Material of build:
Owner as Completed: Flag: UK
Subsequent History:
20 THRUSHFIELD
Disposal Data:
foundered 6nm SE Rathlin O'Birne 28.4.36

ELLER(1896)
ss ELLER

built by John Fullerton & Company Paisley,
Yard No 129
Engines by Ross & Duncan Glasgow

Last Name: Thrushfield (1919)
Propulsion: 2cy 43rhp
Built: 1896
Ship Type: Steamship
Ship's Role: coaster
Tonnage: 243 grt 54n
Length: 125 feet
Breadth: 20 feet 1
Draught: 9 feet 2
Owner History:
R Simpson Whitehaven
Status: Sunk - 28/04/1936

Remarks: wrecked 6miles SE of Rathlin on passage to Ballyshannon with coal. Owners at loss William Reid Ltd Belfast



Single Ship Report for "DERRYMORE"
IDNo: 1120773 Name: DERRYMORE Year: 1905
Builder: Ailsa Country of build: Link: 1015 Ship Design:
Location of yard: Troon Yard No: 142
Keel: Launch Date: 30.9.05 Date of completion: 11.05
Type: Cargo ship Tons: 503 Naval or paramilitary marking : DWT:
Length overall: LPP: 51.8 Beam: 7.8 Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn): 1C-10.5 Material of build:
Owner as Completed: R.McCowen & Sons Ltd, Tralee Flag: UK
Subsequent History:
Disposal Data:

DERRYMORE(1905)
ss DERRYMORE

built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company,
Yard No 142
Engines by Muir & Houston Glasgow

Port of Registry: Tralee
Propulsion: Compound 2cyldr 75rhp
Built: 1905
Ship Type: Steamship
Tonnage: 485t
Length: 170.0ft
Breadth: 25.6ft
Draught: 10.1
Owner History:
R McCowan
Status: Not Recorded -

Single Ship Report for "KERRYMORE"
IDNo: 1135630 Name: KERRYMORE Year: 1921
Builder: Larne SB Country of build: Link: Ship Design:
Location of yard: Larne Yard No: 78
Keel: Launch Date: Date of completion: 2.21
Type: Cargo ship Tons: 509 Naval or paramilitary marking : DWT:
Length overall: LPP: 50.4 Beam: 7.7 Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn): 1T-8.5 Material of build:
Owner as Completed: R.McCowen & Sons Ltd, Tralee Flag: UK Subsequent History:
Disposal Data:
BU Troon 13.8.58
 
#34 ·
The FOUR Shortlived Vessels

Hello All;

Thanks to Charley the MAY 1st information should be good. The other three may well be questionable. I have tried to gather information from every available [to me] source. I may even have some of these vessels wrong from the outset, but would ask any of you for your views. Any corrections, additions and or deletions will be most welcomed, however small they might be.

The Port of Southampton site with their online Lloyds Registers has helped a great deal. I have noticed that, at the moment, only the registers for 1937 and up seem to work. Those for the years 1930 to 1936, though shown, do not contain any information. Is anyone else here having this problem?

Cheers,
Rory

MAY-1898
IDNo: 108625
A039
- In-Service for KELLY: 1919-1919
1898 Built by John Fullerton & Co., Paisley (Yard# 142)
as MAY for Captain T.Burns, Wm.Dunn and T. Matthews, Bangor. NI
Code Flags
261 grt 130' x 21' x 9'5'' 50hp.
1915 Sold to T.Collier, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
1915 Sold to Kynoch Arklow Ltd; London.
1919 (Summer) Sold to J.Kelly, Belfast.
1919 (Fall) Samuel B. Stevenson, Derry. R/N SILVERSPRINGS
1928 Sold to Wilson and Reid, Belfast.
1930 Sold to P. Berrill, Bristol.
1935 Scrapped Briton Ferry.

ELLER-1896
IDNo: 102463
A040
- In-Service for KELLY: 1919-1919
1896 Built by John Fullerton & Co., Paisley (Yard# 129)
As ELLER for R Simpson, Whitehaven
Code Flags MKNV
243 grt, 54 net 125' x 20'1'' x 9'2'' Engine 2cy 16½'' & 34'' by 24'' CP 43rhp by Ross & Duncan Glasgow
1919 Sold to Samuel B. Stevenson, Derry.
1919 r/n THRUSHFIELD
Status: Sunk - 28.04.1936, Wrecked 6 miles SE of Rathlin on passage to Ballyshannon with coal.
Owners at time of loss William Reid Ltd Belfast

GLENARM-1904
IDNo: 119143
A041
- In-Service for KELLY: 1919-1919
1904 Built by Bow McLachlan, Paisley (Yard# 175)
as LYCIDAS for Ritson & Co.
Code Flags MCFS
281 grt 132.8 x 23.1 x 9.7 Engine 2cy 16½'' & 34'' by 24'' CP 47rhp by Bow McLachin & Co., Paisley.
1919 Sold to John Kelly, Belfast
1919 Sold to Samuel B. Stevenson, Derry.
1920 r/n ROSSGARRAGH
1927 r/n ISLESMAN
1955.06 BU Nieuw Lekkerland

RIVER AVOCA-1909
IDNo: 128493
A042
- In-Service for KELLY: 1919-1919
1909 Built by John Fullerton & Co., Paisley (Yard# 210)
as CARDIFF CITY for Despatch S.S.Co Ltd (J. Tyrrell), Cardiff
Code Flags
322 grt, 43.3m x 7.2m x ?m, Engine 1 CP
1914 EDENSIDE
1916 RIVER AVOCA
1919 Sold to John Kelly, Belfast
1919 Sold to Samuel B. Stevenson, Derry.
1920 GLENCREGAGH
1929 Wrecked Vazon Bay, Guernsey 03.06.1929
 
#36 ·
"The Ebay Kelly Boat pix"

Thanks Raymond;

I saw them just awhile ago. I have bid and won a lot from Woody in recent times. Thing is though, wait a few days and all the Woody images will appear on the Solent Site.

Some of the items posted today by Woody are quite large for what you expect on ebay 900+ DPI is not a bad image for the hobbyiest as is. A few of the pix are new to me, and would like to obtain them if possible.

I have received all the Sea Breezes which contain the History and Roster [Fleet List] for Kelly Shipping. They are great, and so many other ships appear therein I previously knew nothing about.

I have sent a "Thank You" message to the gentleman who went to the great expense and trouble to sent these magazines to me. Not to mention his hospitality. I wish I could hear back from him as he is a member of our site, and I would like to properly thank him up here. A most kind individual, indeed.

Cheers,

Rory
 
#38 ·
"Just to Thank a Wonderful Seafarer"

Hello Duquensa;

Thank you ever so much for the Seabreezes magazines you sent. Your hospitality is truly incredible. They are simply wonderful to have, and the contents for John Kelly Shipping “The Last Word” on the subject. There are so many other ‘short-lived ships’ in the Fleet List, especially during the World War I period; it would have been impossible for me to have found out about them any other way. I am also interested in the two statements in the December issue – “John Kelly the gun runner”? Guns out of Denmark to Northern Ireland in 1914.
! May I be so naive to ask just who were these guns for?

The history presented therein is really great, and the fleet list seems to sum it all up.

Again, I would like to thank you for your generosity, and if I can be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to ask.

Cheers,
Rory
 
#39 ·
John Kelly (Belfast).

Hi again Rory, The topic of Irish Gun Running is deep and mysterious. It was still going until very recently. Also, it is rather long winded to chat about on this site. Have a look at the following, which might answer some of your queries and possibly lead you on to further investigation:-

www.answers.com/topic/larne-gun-running

www.ulster-scots.co.uk/docs/terrorism/gunrunners.htm

You will find reference there to the Balmerino and others. Good luck.
 
#41 ·
On my 3rd trip in Bank Line I shared a cabin with a guy from Belfast (twocoats) whose mother's family, the Blacks seemed to run Kelly's. I've no doubt he's sleeping as we speak in his Canadian time warp, otherwise I think a good break down of these vessels would have been forthcoming. I heard of nothing else but during the 12 months of sailing with him!
Cheers, H
 
#42 ·
Clyde Valley

Hallo again Rory, I think "duguesa" has pointed you to the details of the gun-running event, the ship herself would require as many words to describe as she led a very long and interesting life. Details are -- Built by McIlwaine, Lewis & Co. Ltd; Belfast as the BALNIEL for the Wigan Coal & Iron Co. Ltd; Liverpool in 1886 Named after Lord Balniel, owner of the Wigan Mines. Sold 1909 to Clydeside SS Co. Ltd; Glasgow and registered Glasgow, and in 1910 renamed LONDONER. In 1912 The same owners renamed her CLYDEVALLEY (0ne word!!) Sold 1914 to Hugh Crawford,Glasgow Accuired in April by Major Frederick Crawford at Glasgow on behalf of the UVF she was briefly renamed MOUNTJOY II, and on the night of the 24th April, 1914 she rendezvoused with the coaster FANNY at sea and while the two ships steamed along lashed togather one showing a port light and the other a starboard light a cargo of rifles and ammunition was transferred to the MOUNTJOY II, to be unloaded at Larne and Bangor later that night.. I'm unsure what became of her after that, but in August of that year she was seized in Hamburg. In April 1916 she is recorded as a German Army Transport. Jan. 1919 she was returned and bought by Richard J. Cowser, Glasgow. Sold 1920 to Norman Canning, Glasgow and registered at Larne. Sold 1927 to G. Barry, Glasgow. Sold 1928 to Colonial Shippers Ltd; Guysboro, Nova Scotia and used to run coal to Trinidad and salt back. Sold 1940 to A.S.Publicover, Luneenburg, Nova Scotia, having been abandoned and aground on a sandbank since the slump six years earlier.. 1942 Converted to a motor vessel. Sold 1943 to Halifax Fisheries, Ltd; Halifax, Nova Scotia and traded unescorted to the West Indias during the war. She was later chartered to the Canadian National Railways and survived a number of strandings etc. Sold 1947 to Riverport SS Co. Ltd; Halifax, Nova Scotia. Sold 1955 to Lake Shipping Co. Ltd; Halifax, Nova Scotia. 1966- Offered for sale 1969- Accuired by Samuel J.Campbell, Whitehead,Co. Antrim, and others, Befast who had started a fund to raise £10,000 to buy and preserve her. A crew of ex M.N. seamen sailed her home to Carrickfergus. She proved to be too old and expensive to maintain and was towed to Lancaster to be broken up in 1974, 88 years after she was launched!! Said to have sunk a submarine in W.W.1 and to commerate this a brass star was added to her black funnel. Official no.93690. 174' x 26'.1'' x 12'.622. 223nt 460gt. 80hp. 8 knots.
 

Attachments

#44 ·
Ahoy,
Found 2 BALLY's
1st:BALLYHENRY 1952 built as CATHERINE AIDA1918 ex OLIVINE1923-CARRICKMACROSS1930-WAR CAM[during War-Time]
2nd:BALLYRORY 1963
Hope you like them.
 

Attachments

#45 ·
Aye , those were the days . How long ago was this ? I am 58 and grew up in a townland bordering the riverbank . From the age of 10 , i used to help the men , with what we called " checking" the ship round the tight bend near the Port. A rope was put ashore with a heaving line and dropped over a bollard that was sunk into the riverbank , then a few turns were taken around the warping drum on the fora,d winch, which enabled the ship to " swing" around the bend , just tide assisted . Great memories. We had many small Dutchmen visiting here , NARWAL, MORAG, ANGEJA, URANUS B etc. etc.
 
#46 ·
Ahoy.
Yep a lot of Dutch coasters[and others] went up the river Swilly to get there, unfortunately I never did, as a lot of artists made some lovely paintings/drawings from visiting vessels.
Yeah those were the days my friend.(Thumb)
 
#48 ·
The Coal Quay, Belfast.

I remember in my early teens spending hours on Belfast's Queens Bridge watching the overnight Ferry Boats,Glasgow,Heysham and Liverpool prepare to leave.
The Glasgow Boat, usually a Burns Laird vessel,but on occasions a stand-in Coast Line ship,was nearest to the bridge.
They often employed a bouy located close to the coal quay to winch out into mid-river, especially if another Heysham was double banked.
The tender that was in attendance had 'Ferran' on it, probably the company name.
I also really enjoyed watching the ''Kelly's Coal Boats'',from my vantage point on the bridge.
They berthed quite close to the bridge, usually stern first.
On occasions there were other coal boats with the prefix ''Craig'', as in ''Graigavad''.
I just couldn't get enough of ships and thought about going to sea with
''Kelly's''.
Eventually, I went to sea as an engineer some 8 years later with ''Port Line''.
 
#53 ·
Ballymoney

My Grandfather was the chief engineer on the Ballymoney ,wartime servive on the Glengariff, he also worked the Ballyknock among others. His name was William Hanna ,died in 1968 ,previously he was an engineer with Davidson,his son ,my father ,Eric Hanna worked on most of the Kelly fleet as well as the head line boats and then with the Belfast Harbour Commisioners ,always blames us ,his kids ,for never going to sea properly.I showed him this site and he remembers his dad being late coming home collecting the ballymoney due to the reasons another poster stated ,down by the head.The point of this post is to see if anyone worked with William or Eric Hanna. Thanks and please let me know if either William or Eric ring a bell.
 
#70 · (Edited)
Wiliam Hanna

My Grandfather was the chief engineer on the Ballymoney ,wartime servive on the Glengariff, he also worked the Ballyknock among others. His name was William Hanna ,died in 1968 ,previously he was an engineer with Davidson,his son ,my father ,Eric Hanna worked on most of the Kelly fleet as well as the head line boats and then with the Belfast Harbour Commisioners ,always blames us ,his kids ,for never going to sea properly.I showed him this site and he remembers his dad being late coming home collecting the ballymoney due to the reasons another poster stated ,down by the head.The point of this post is to see if anyone worked with William or Eric Hanna. Thanks and please let me know if either William or Eric ring a bell.
Hi I think I sailed with a Willam Hanna on the Ballymoney from July 1968 toMarch 1969. I have had a head injury so the memory not good. Taken this info from my discharge books. Does anyone out there remember a David Colin Hoey?
 
#54 ·
Hello.
I am trying to help someone track down the ships his great
grandfather sailed on.
He mentions the BRIDEEN as being ON140572 Registered Belfast.
His great grandfather sailed with her in 1937.
I think this may be the John Kelly ship 362 grt; built 1918,
acquired by John Kelly around 1935.
Please can anyone help ...
Best Wishes, Raymond
 
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