Spuds were washed ashore from stricken ship

According to a report in the East Antrim Times, crew members of the “Zevenbergen”, a Dutch vessel, were ordered to dump the cargo after several attempts to re-float the ship failed.

The cargo had been brought on board in Londonderry and was bound for the Canary Islands.

It was hoped that the boat could be raised from the beach without the aid of a tug.

Word spread quickly among locals who lined the Coast Road in cars, lorries, tractors and trailers for a quarter of a mile in a bid to bring home some of the unexpected bounty.

Men were seen gathering along the water’s edge armed with long hooked poles to reel in the haul and waiting for the waves to wash the sacks of spuds towards the shore.

Carnlough police arrived at the shoreline and refused to allow anyone to remove the haul.

Customs officers told bystanders that sacks which came ashore were the property of Receiver of Wrecks.

1980:

A DUP councillor opposed a proposal to send a message of support to the new Church of Ireland Primate.

Irish Independent councillor John Turnley suggested sending a letter of congratulations to Rt. Rev. John Armstrong from Larne Borough Council.

However, Councillor Jack McKee refused to back the proposal saying that the council should not support the new primate because he had stated a willingness to have talks with the Provisional IRA.

Mr McKee said: “He was not speaking for the Protestants of Northern Ireland and he would not find any support in the loyalist community.”

He added that this willingness would “give credence” to the IRA’s “campaign of murder, death and destruction.”