Conclusion: ...."Comfortably situated during the summer, their situation in winter is most desolate, being secluded from all intercourse with the main, their small boats not being able to live in that most boisterous ocean, the fury of which is such, that we were shown on the high western shore a stone four feet long and three thick every way, which the force of the billows had risen from below (two years ago) and carried to the top of the island a height of at least 100 feet. During this season they live upon dry or salted fish, potatoes, milk and then and now upon a sheep which is killed and divided among them. They are all of the Roman Catholic religion. They appear devout, kneeling or bowing to all places which they hold as sanctified, but superstitious and credulous to the highest degree. On my enquiries how they would do, if a priest was wanting during the winter season for some ceremony, which absolutely required one, our conductor answered me gravely, that in t! hat case any one of them went to the seaside and launched his boat, which as soon as she had touched the water, the sea would become calm, and the wind cease, until the boat had brought the priest to island, back to the main and was returned and hauled on shore, that then the tempest would rage again and continue as violent as before. I was tempted to ask him if this miracle had been done in his time, but reflecting on the mortifcation my question might occasion him, I though it would be ill repaying his trouble and hospitality towars us, so that I did not put my query to him. We observed also to us, that they had neither priest, lawyer or physician, they were devout, just and healthy, of which we were in no doubt; to conclude the characters of the inhabitants, they refuse all payments from their visitors for whatever treatment they have given them and on our landing they were going to kill a sheep to entertain us, our servants and crew, if Mr. Irwin had not prevented them! by showing them our provisions, which were in plenty more than we could consume. To give you a complete idea of the goodness of the heart of those islanders, I shall mention the manner of our departure, which I think is but doing justice to their hospitality and benevolence. Having finished our drawings and observations we adjourned to our eating barn where, amongst the plenty of provisions Coll. Irwin had brought, the good people had added quantity of fresh fish, particularly excellent lobsters; notice was given that after dinner, we should depart, and after our repast, on quitting the barn, we found all the inhabitants children included standing at the door with grief painted in their countenances, we walked slowly to the harbour followed by all; where being arrived Mr. Irwin made them sit on the grass in semi-circular form, and opening a portmanteau distributed presents consisting in ribbons, roll tobacco, and beads; after which his servant broached a small cask of whi! skey, which was served round to the company, who drank to our health wishing us a thousand blessings. The ceremony embracing the females was renewed who returned the compliment with tears in their eyes, and with so much affection, it it seemed as if we were their nearest relations who parted never to return. We shook hands with the men who seemed not less concerned and we walked to the harbour and embarked, whilst the people spread themselves on the piers, uttering blessings, as soon as we unmoored, we saluted them with cheers which were answered from the shore, and both sides continued waving hands until out of sight. There was something so affecting in all this, that for a long time we continued in thoughtful silence, out of which we were roused on entering Sligo Bay, by our vessel striking on a bank, our crew consisting of five men, the Captain included, having found means to broach the whiskey cask unknown to us, the liquor of which operating on their brains, rendered! them unable to do their business. We got out of it however by the help of poles, but running aground afterwards almost every five minutes Coll. Irwin was obliged, as it was already dark and for fear of accidents, to take the helm and steer us for Sligo; which he happily affected, and we arrived there at midnight. We observed during our navigation in the dark that phenomenon often menioned in descriptions of voyages namely the luminous wake of our vessel, and the fiery flashes, occasioned by every stroke of our oars, which are thought to be occasioned by quantities of luminous sea insects . If it is so, Sligo bay abounds with them. I have the honour to be Sir, Your Most obedient and most obliged Servt., Gabriel Beranger, Dublin 26th May 1785, To Coll. Chs. Vallancey." Note, Two individuals - Martin Heraghty (king of the island) and a Mr. Waters, young men in 1900, may well have participated in one of the island's major activities at that time, the making of what the inhabitants called whiskey (never called "poteen" on Inishmurray). In 1946, the machinery necessary for the delicious, illicit liquor came from the copper "worm" to the "flake," a large barrel connected to the worm where it cooled before going through the "tundish" into a keg or cask which, needless to add, it didn't stay long.