File:Fete at Dunkettle, 1859 - Wellcome L0046151 (cropped).jpg

Image shows a Fete at Dunkettle, near Cork. Dinner given at dunkettle by Mr. T. L. Lewis, of london, to 800 tradesmen and labourers on the Cork and Youghal railway.

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FETE AT DUNKETTLE, NEAR CORK. ON Wednesday, June 1, a fe o: a grand scale was given at Dunkettle to the workmen employed on the Cork and Youghal Railway. Mr. Lewis, a gentleman from London, through whom a large proportion of the funding raised for the construction of the line was obtained, having lately proceeded thither and inspected the works, was highly gratified a the progress that had been made, and the workmanlike style iin which everything connected with them was executed; and as a testimony of his satisfaction he determined on giving a substantial dinner to the workmen at his private expense. The result of this determination was the merrymaking of the 1st of June. A large piece of ground belonging to the company, at the northern side of the Glanmire-road, was selected as the place for the festive meeting. Around a smooth, even, and grassy valley in thn centre rose gently sloping hills,. so as to form a kind of natural amphitheatre. In the valley we, l laid out four large tables, intended for the accommodation of eight hundred people; and temporary cooking-places were erected on the spot for the cooking of the various vegetables. On the slope of one of the hills was erected a large marquee for the accommodation of the ladies and gentlemen who were invited to witness the proceedings, and a liberal supply of cake and wine was provided for their refreshment. A large number from Cork and its neighbourhood was present, besides many of the gentlemen connected with the line, and their families. The attendance of ladies was very numerous. About four o'clock 800 of the workmen marched in a sort of rude procession up to the tables. preceied by a German band and a rather extraordinary kind of banner, consisting of a quantity of long, curled shavings floating from a pole, and surmounted by a saw and hatchet. A heavy shower caused a delay of about half an hour; but, the clouds clearing away and the sun shining brilliantly, the carving commenced, and very soon large joints of beef, bacon, pork, &c., with proportionate quantities of potatoos and vegetables, disappeared with astonishing rapidity before the combined efforts of 800 hungry "navvies." At the conclusion of the dinner Mr. Butt, in an appropriate speech, introduced Mr. Lewis to the men, and, after the loud and hearty cheers with which he was greeted had subsided, that gentleman expressed his great gratification at the reception he had met with on this his first visit to Ireland, and trusted that it would not be his last. Having made some further remarks expressive of his gratification at the progress of the railway, and complimentary to the workmen, Mr. Lewis concluded amid loud cheers; after which Mr. Hutchins and one or two other gentlemen made some brief remarks. Soon after the tables were deserted, and fun and diver. sion became the order of the evening. --DINNER GIVEN AT DUNKETTLE BY MR. T. L. LEWIS, OF LONDON~, TO 800 TRADESMEN AND LABOURERS ON THE CORK AND TOUGHAL RAILWAY.

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