During a recent meeting of the Limerick Board, several important topics were discussed, including the status of the bacon shed at the docks and an assessment of the trade of the port.

Bacon Shed Application:
Alderman O’Mara brought forward the issue of the bacon shed at the docks, which had previously been applied for by the Shannon Rowing Club. He announced that the bacon merchants were now ready to take over the bacon shed immediately. This development was significant as it meant that the club’s application was no longer relevant. The Secretary conveyed that the Shannon Rowing Club had officially withdrawn their application in light of this new development. Alderman O’Mara assured that the club would receive the necessary facilities despite the change in circumstances.

Trade of the Port:
Another crucial matter discussed was the trade of the port and the potential to provide historical data to showcase its trends. The Secretary had been tasked with preparing a comparison of the imports and exports of the port for the years 1854, 1894, and 1904 to gauge the trade patterns over time. He had reached out to the Limerick Steamship Co and the Clyde Shipping Coy for relevant information, but both companies indicated that they were unable to provide the required data. They suggested that the information could be obtained from the manifests.

When asked if the information could be gathered from manifests, the Secretary explained that it would be challenging to retrieve information from the year 1884, as he was unaware of the whereabouts of the manifests from that period. He did, however, maintain a record of imports to the port since 1899 in a private book, which he was willing to share with the board. Alderman O’Mara emphasized that the revenue of the port, which served as an indicator of imports and exports, had not decreased in the past twenty years. He suggested that publishing the revenue data for the past twenty or thirty years could help dispel misconceptions about the port’s declining business.

Sir Thomas Cleeve and Mr Long also expressed interest in obtaining information beyond 1899, as it would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the trade trends. Mr Power highlighted the need to correct any misconceptions about the exports, while Mr Whelan proposed gathering information on the type of manufactured articles entering the port. It was noted that while rail transport contributed significantly to incoming goods, ships also played a crucial role in the overall trade.

In light of these discussions, the Secretary was directed to prepare a return for the revenue of the port, including historical data as suggested. The aim was to provide accurate information that would contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the trade patterns and trends of the port over the years.

Limerick Echo – Tuesday 11 April 1905