The late George Gallagher of Inver- a giant of the fishing industry

The passing of George Gallagher of Inver on  February 19 removed a link that was felt in the fishing industry in Donegal and much further afield.

George, an average man in height, was a giant of the industry, especially with his expertise in the speciality of nets.

His schooling may have ended at Keelogs National School, but through the traditions handed down at family level, he was able to make calculations in his head regarding net sizes and mesh sizes that would rival any computer in the modern era.

When you add into the mix an ability to communicate with kings and paupers, it was no surprise that George Gallagher’s wake and funeral was so widely attended. 

George spent most of his working life in Gundry’s in Killybegs but there were many other areas where he made a huge contribution in the fishing industry and he has left a legacy that will stand forever in his memory.

Innovator 

An innovator and a handyman, left handed George could turn his hand at just about anything. On one occasion a new innovation was introduced on the Late Late Show to help GAA coaches. The coaching aid involved a net and within days George had manufactured his own version and presented it to Master O’Donnell in Keelogs National School.

George was born on December 12, 1935 the youngest of four children of Mary Ann and Peter Gallagher, Inver village.

Fishing and small farming was the mainstay of the family and so George started to fish with the family when he was 15 years old. 

He then went on to work with the ESB during rural electrification in the early 1960s and from there he went to the construction of the fish meal factory in Killybegs and later as an employee of the factory.

George with a salmon caught off Muckross

At the same time he continued to fish with the family in Inver bay. 

In 1967 he joined Bridport Gundry as its  first employee in Killybegs as a net maker and worked there for the remainder of his working life until retirement.  His work brought him all over Ireland where he met and made many friends.  On the way home from these trips was the stop in Dunnes or Tesco in Sligo for the big shopping and treats for the family. 

George had a strong faith and always started his daily journey with the local St Naul’s prayer which meant a lot to him.                           

George married Bridget, the love of his life in 1965.  They had a family of six children, three sons and three daughters.

A family and community man

George was a family and community man at heart.  He was involved locally in rowing clubs, plays, mummers and the Pioneer Association. He had a great love of photography.

He was involved on committees for the Community Centre, the new St Naul’s National School and the Ardaghey Graveyard where he was buried.   

George was proud that his family, who have continued to be involved in the local community.  

He was very proud of his grandchildren’s achievements in their studies, drama and playing with  St. Naul’s GAA Club and Eany Celtic Football Club. He enjoyed attending their games.  He was an avid Donegal supporter as well. 

Inver was his birthplace and home.  Inver Bay was his pride and joy and he loved nothing more than a day out the bay.  

As everyone knows George loved to tell a good story and share the local fishing history.  He was a people’s person, honourable and honest and was as happy explaining something to a child as he was to an adult. 

“He was an advisor, a mentor, a proud grandfather, a good father and good husband to Bridget. We will all miss him,” said his son John when speaking at the funeral Mass, which was concelebrated by Fr Raymond McQuarrie and Fr James Sweeney.

 Memorial stone

One of the many projects which George took a very strong hand in was the erection of a memorial stone which carries the names of all the fishermen who lost their lives in Inver Bay.

In a very informative interview he did on video with Paddy Meehan he recalled the fishing disaster which occurred in 1904 when his grandfather was one of a seven man crew which lost their lives when hit by a sudden gale at St John’s Point on their way back from a night fishing herring off Rossnowlagh. 

The memorial stone includes the seven names - Peter Kennedy and his son Pat, John Gallagher, James Donegan, Paddy Donegan, Charlie Keeney and Thomas Sweeney. 

George said every time he looked out at the bay he recalled the disaster. 

“I was reared with a net in my hand. When I started off, nets were very scarce and there were very few net makers.

“You started fishing in April, May for salmon and continued right into the winter. Then come December you  would fish these gill nets for herring.”

George recalled on the video recording the arrival of Gundrys to Killybegs and being asked to join them. He then started to go out and sell the nets and the travel took him to every nook and cranny in the country. He also enjoyed going to fishing exhibitions in Spain, Portugal and Denmark and even made it to Taiwan.

“From humble beginnings I finished up as Inshore Marine Manager and retired in 2001 with 125 people in the company,” said George.

During his time in Gundry’s he came in contact with many people and some of them explained the important role George Gallagher played in the development of the company.

Robert Young was one of those and his story was as follows:  “Back in the spring of 1974 during very troubled times I was working as Fisheries manager in Belfast Ropeworks when a customer from Aberdeen tipped me off about a job in Killybegs. Long story short I got the job and at the age of 26 I headed to Killybegs to be manager of Gundry's net factory.

“I was to put it mildly a very naive young man but when I went to my first day I was met by George who shook my hand and I knew instantly that I was in safe hands. Over the next six  years we worked closely together travelling in Gundry's van to every nook and cranny and port on the Irish coast. I was constantly learning both old and  new techniques of inshore fishing.

“We became firm friends, speaking often and remained so until his passing.  We spoke just some days before his passing and he still had the same smile in his voice as all those years ago. It's not often we have the opportunity to meet and know a giant of a man both as a friend and a very knowledgeable person of his trade.”

‘Unparalleled knowledge’

Richard McCormack, with whom George worked with at Gundry’s, became another lifelong friend.

“In December 1979, I returned to Killybegs to manage Bridport Gundry Ireland Ltd. Its customers ranged from small inshore boats to large trawlers engaged in offshore fisheries. My experience was the latter, so George Gallagher’s unparalleled knowledge of traditional inshore fishing methods was a Godsend to a young man in his first managerial position. 

“One event in autumn 1980 stands out, when George insisted we head immediately to Inver to photograph their unique local sprat fishery. Two 18-foot clinker built boats, each carrying five fishermen, a ring net and towing a small punt set off with screeching seagulls heralding that sprat were in the bay. George was in his natural element, while I realised just how privileged I was to witness this historic fishing technique in action. Thanks to George, this iconic experience inspired a lifelong interest in maritime heritage.   

George pictured on his last trip out to his favourite place - Inver Bay

“What became increasingly evident was the respect that George had amongst Ireland’s inshore fishing communities, extending to the Lough Neagh eel and other inland fisheries. His calm nature and easy wit complemented his hard won knowledge. His uncanny sales acumen was evidenced by George effortlessly lightening the burden of visiting customers’ wallets.  

“We travelled together with the van’s suspension groaning under the weight of nets, ropes and accessories and returned triumphantly with cash and fresh orders. He taught me when to haggle, how to cut a deal and extend credit or not, which were instinctive in him. I implicitly trusted George’s judgement, jokingly calling him my inshore fisheries Spiritual Advisor, because he truly was a formidable contributor to Gundry's bottom line.

“George was appropriately mourned by his family and many friends from far and near, who celebrated a life well lived while also acknowledging his characteristic traits of decency, honesty and integrity. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.”

‘The kindest person I have ever met’

Another of his best friends in Gundrys was Faustina McFadden, who paid him a fitting tribute.

“The kindest person I have ever met. He trained all the staff in Gundrys when fishing wasn’t as big as it is now. He was so good to all the girls. If there was a row we’d send him up to mediate.

“He was one of those characters, he would just smile and you could not argue with him.

“We were close friends too, which was great. When I left Gundry’s, we stayed friends up to the day he died.

“He was a confidant and a great man for conversation. He knew everybody. In the early days when I joined in the mid 70s, he used to fill the van up and go around the west coast of Ireland and literally go into the houses and deliver the net.

“We were down in Blacksod a few years ago and parked on the pier. This fella saw the Donegal registration and came up and said, ‘do you know George Gallagher?’ That said it all.

“He delivered nets for years and years and the human touch was there. He always stopped in Willie’s of Grange when he was coming up from the west. He would ring his order in and the girls there looked after him. I could do nothing but say good things about him. He left a trail of happiness behind him,” said Faustina.

“He reared a lovely family and the only time I ever saw him down was the passing of his daughter Breda.”

‘He could talk to anybody about anything’

Among others who came in contact with George was his nephew Danny Gallagher, who said he would have worked alongside him in Gundry’s for around 25 years before branching out on his own.

“It was mostly rigging gill nets. He was an expert in that area.

“He left his mark. Anybody who had any dealings with him had only good things to say about him. He was very helpful to people, especially people starting out who might be struggling. He would have worked along with them.

“He had a diplomatic way with him and he had a passion for the jobs. He had a way with words and as for conversation, he could talk!

“Him and daddy were funny when they met at night. There would be big conversations, one would tell one story and the other would tell a bigger one. That was the way of the time.

“His big strength was being able to converse. He could talk to anybody about anything, not just about fishing, about football. He could engage you in a conversation.

“It didn’t matter if you were young or old. He enjoyed teaching people. He had a great friendship with everyone and had no enemies. 

“He encouraged people to get on in life. Even when we started up on our own, he took  a great interest. He was glad to see you still doing okay

“His passing leaves a void. He was involved in the industry when everything was smaller. He especially enjoyed the travelling. His  second home was down around Mayo,” said Danny.

Predeceased by his parents Peter and Mary Ann and his beloved daughter Breda, brothers Peter and Johnny, George is survived and sadly missed by his wife Bridget; sons John (Teresa), Seoirse (Marie), Michael (Marie); daughters Catriona (Joe), Sheila (Paul) and son-in-law Karol.

He will be sadly missed by all his grandchildren and great grandchildren, sister Patricia, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends.

George’s Month’s Mind takes place at St Naul’s Church, Ardaghey on Friday, March 21 at 7.30 pm.