An Austrian in Cobh in the 19th. C. – Jim Shealy

Of all the beautiful monuments erected over graves in Cobh’s Old Church Graveyard and there are many, one in particular stands out in its own uniqueness. Not for any particular text or intricate stone carving, of which there is abundance in the graveyard, no, this headstone stands out because in the midst of all the stone it is distinctively designed in the shape of a heart and anchor of metal construct on a simple stone plinth. This memorial stands erect over the grave of a most colourful characters who lived in Cobh in the 19th. C. and was involved in the life of the town in numerous different roles. It is the grave of Gabriel Goidanich an Austrian national and prominent resident of the town.

Gabriel, originally from Lussian Grande in Austria was, like his father before him a Shipping Agent, interestingly his father Giovanni is also buried in the Old Church, a stones throw from Gabriel grave.

He operated his shipping business the ‘Queenstown General Ship Chandlery Company’ from a number of locations in the town one of them being No. 15 East Beach, which is presently where Ryngs shop is situated.

He also held positions as treasurer of the ‘Queenstown Model Yacht Club’ when in 1878 the main item for discussion at their monthly meeting was the employment of paid hands on these model yachts there being a lack of amateur sailors to crew the crafts. It was agreed that in allowing paid hands to crew, they would be restricted from handling the helm. Model in this context referred to a particular type of craft and not to be confused with a model yacht as we presently would know it.

Gabriel, it appears was no stranger before the local magistrates sittings, He was an active and energetic member of the Regatta Committee and was secretary of the committee in 1883 when disputes involving the withholding of prize monies was adjudicated on at the local magistrates sittings. Earlier on in 1861 he was charged by the Customs and Excise with smuggling tobacco and was fined the sum of 100 pounds, a considerable fine at the time. In 1863 he was accused of presenting himself as a river pilot by a branch pilot, John Barry, however here he was found to be innocent as in his defence he claimed he was acting as interpreter and merely relaying the ship’s captain’s messages to the men and not giving directions from himself.

Gabriel Goidanich’s name also appears among the town’s dignitaries when in 1880 a reception and presentation was organised for the officers and men of the American Frigate Constellation in appreciation of their services in providing relief to the destitute of the recent Great Irish Famine.

He was married to an Irish woman by the name of O Sullivan from Cork City who had strong Republican principles and it was therefore no surprise when in 1872 as master of the vessel ‘Erin’, though registered in Austria he sailed this ship into Cork harbour and to a rousing reception from locals and other vessels within the harbour she proudly flew from her mast and for the first time in Irish waters, the National colours, a green flag bearing the emblem of the harp of Ireland without the crown.

Gabriel died in 1885 at the young age of 52, of consumption having lived an eventful and active life in Cobh in the mid. 19th C. He alone reposes in the grave at the Old Church as he had a son who joined the priesthood and was stationed in Australia, Gabriel’s wife died on a visit to her son and was interred in Australia, far from her native Cork and her beloved husband.

This article first appeared in the Cobh Edition August 2019