Jarlath Sweeney Visits Stanford

After a whirlwind visit to Stanford, Jarlath Sweeny is over the moon that his dream and objective came to fruition. 

Strong Stanford Connections

A business trip to South Africa provided Irish automotive publisher and group editor Jarlath Sweeney the opportunity to visit Stanford and trace the steps of Sir Robert Stanford. Jarlath’s interest in the heritage village of Stanford stems from the fact that he lives in Claremorris close to Ballinastanford, in the heart of County Mayo where Sir Robert Stanford was born in 1806. 

This was Jarlath’s third visit to South Africa but his first to the Overberg. From the first impression, he noted the similarity between the landscape surrounding Stanford and the mountains of the West of Ireland.

Revisiting The Past

Jarlath’s first stop was at Stanford Tourism where he met with locals Bea Whitaker, Marian Ferris, Sumayiya Mohammed, Le-Ann Hoogbaard, Anchelle Damon, Marie Minnaar and Liz Clarke. The group took a walk down Queen Victoria Road to De Kleine Rivers Valey House which Sir Robert owned and where he lived from 1838 after serving in the 27th Inniskillin Regiment of Foot. He bought the 27,000 hectares of land for £35,000 and bought five more farms amongst which was Broadlands in Somerset West. Robert was only 10 years old when he received the title of Captain but did not take up this captaincy until he was 19 years old. He went on to receive a Knighthood from Queen Victoria in 1850. 

Irene and John Tomlinson are now the owners of the homestead opposite the Dutch Reform Church. Irene entertained with stories about Sir Robert, his family and the house which has hosted Lady Anne Barnard who was on a trip to De Kelders. It was also a haven for survivors of the HMS Birkenhead when the troopship wrecked in 1852 at Dangerpoint off the Gansbaai coast. Irene told of Sir Robert keeping a schooner at Stanford’s Bay to take produce to Cape Town. 

Forming Connections and Making New Friends

Jacoline Louw served her famous homemade lamingtons before the group set off to the graveyard to see the resting place of one of Sir Robert’s cousins. While there the group checked if there were other Irish family names buried there. Then the party regrouped at Stanford Tourism after which Jarlath met with William Stephans at Stanford Kitchen. Then it was off to meet Overstrand Municipality’s Executive Mayor Ald Dr Annelie Rabie. 

Amongst the presentations made were a number of Claremorris football jerseys handed to Anchelle Damon who coaches at Stanford United Sports Academy, a Mayo crystal plaque from the Claremorris Historical Society and another from the Claremorris Chamber of Commerce. 

Jarlath is hopeful that this visit will set in motion a linkage between Ballinastanford, Claremorris Ireland, and Stanford and that there will be further collaborations, especially with business, community projects and sports development.