ammunition between the primary and secondary armaments possible. Even though they by themselves would not have been powerful enough to stop an invasion they would have been able to cause a lot of damage to any enemy fleet. Former residents In 1842, after the salvaging the Windsor Castle, Inis Cathaigh was home to Shannon Estuary Pilots and their families. The primary families of the island were the Brennan, Melican, Scanlan, McMahon, Costelloe, Hehir, Moran, and Griffin. The river pilots were highly skilled mariners, using only native currachs (canvas boats) to reach incoming and outgoing ships. The inhabitants of Inis Cathaigh appear to have escaped the deaths and emigration associated within Kilrush and most of Ireland during the Great Famine. The total population of the island including the soldiers, actually rose from 65 in 1841 to 99 in 1851 and to 139 in 1861. The number of houses in this period rose from nine in 1841 to 24 in 1861. The memorial inscriptions on the gravestones do not show any deaths of islanders during the period 1845 to 1850. It is thought that a combination of fishing, additional shipping due to famine exports to England, along with piloting provided good employment for the pilots and their families. The last residents left in 1969. Annalistic references See Annals of Inisfallen (AI) AI797.2 Ólchobar, son of Flann, abbot of Inis Cathaig, rested. AI863.2 Repose of Aedán, abbot of Inis Cathaig. AI901.1 Bissextile. Kl. Repose of Mael Brigte son of Brolach, abbot of Inis Cathaig. AI958.3 Repose of Cinaed Ua Con Minn, bishop of Les Mór and Inis Cathaig. AI974.2 The son of Aralt made a circuit of Ireland with a great company, and plundered Inis Cathaig, and brought Ímar from it into captivity. AI974.4 Repose of Scandlán Ua hEirc, learned bishop and abbot of Inis Cathaig. AI992.5 Repose of Cathal son of Ledbán, abbot of Inis Cathaig. AI994.2 Repose of Fínnechta Ua Ciarucáin, vice-abbot of Inis Cathaig. AI1024.7 Senchán, son of Flaithbertach, on his pilgrimage to Inis Cathaig. AI1057.5 Inis Cathaig was plundered by the foreigners of the son of Mael na mBó, and a great slaughter [was inflicted] on them. AI1094.13 A great mortality of the men of Ireland, so that it is impossible to enumerate all the people that died. From that pestilence died: [...] Ua Maíl Muine, abbot of Inis Cathaig AI1101.2 A great hosting around Ireland by Muirchertach, son