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History - Shipwrecks

SHIPWRECKS of Dún Laoghaire Harbour and Dublin Bay

A Short History compiled by Marc Zimmermann

[ remembering lives lost through the centuries ]

[ KEY DATES ]

  • 1760: first (single) Dún Laoghaire pier built
    which unfortunately silted up quickly
  • 1780: American pirate The Black Prince captures
    two mail ships and holds them for ransom
  • 1797-1800: 58 vessels were recorded as
    wrecked, stranded or damaged in Dublin Bay
  • entry into the Liffey became increasingly difficult
  • ships had to wait days before they could berth
  • amount of shipwrecks became unacceptable:
  • up to 100 boats and ships per year wrecked
    off the coast of Blackrock and Monkstown with
  • thousands of lives lost
  • 1817-1831: building of Dún Laoghaire's current piers
  • Earl of Whitworth insists that entrance to the harbour
    be widened to accommodate the Admiral's fleet
  • widening allowed more silt to be washed in and made it
    impossible for larger ships to enter safely as planned
  • 1960s: upgrade of lighthouses and lightships

[ SAFETY AT SEA ]

  • ships' crews of the old days were usually unable to swim
  • lifesaving equipment was rare and rudimentary at best
    (e.g. canvas vests filled with cork blocks)
  • cold water of the Irish Sea soon leads to hypothermia
  • lifeboat systems were introduced rather late around the world
  • 1803: Dún Laoghaire operates first lifeboat system in Europe

[ SHIPWRECKS ]

RMS LEINSTER [ 1918 ]

  • served as Kingstown - Holyhead mail boat during WWI
  • carrying passengers and mail between Ireland and Wales
  • Irish Sea saw much enemy U-boat activity in 1918
  • RMS Leinster was attacked by German submarine UB 123
    on 10 Oct. 1918 off the Kish Bank
  • carrying over 700 passengers (ca. 300 of which soldiers)
  • was torpedoed twice, just three minutes apart
  • only 256 passengers rescued, while almost 500 drowned
  • one of Dún Laoghaire's and Ireland's greatest tragedies
  • model, documents and artefacts are on display in
    Dún Laoghaire's Maritime Museum (to be reopened)
  • wreck lies at 25-33 m depth, has badly deteriorated
  • was bought for £100 by a diver

UB 124 [ 1918 ]

  • UBIII type submarine (U-boat)
  • classified as coastal torpedo attack boat
  • 55 m long, max. dive depth 75 m
  • went on one patrol only: 1-20 July 1918
  • 19 July: UB 124 torpedoes and sinks British troop
    ship Justicia en route from Belfast to New York
  • 20 July: UB 124 hit in retaliation by depth charges
    from three destroyers
  • sub was forced to resurface, then abandoned by
    its crew and scuttled (sunk) off Dublin
  • 2 crew dead, 32 crew taken prisoners of war

RNLI LIFEBOAT [ 1895 ]

  • a ship was wrecked in Dublin Bay during heavy storm
  • RNLI lifeboat with 15 crew rowed out to the rescue
    from east pier station house
    boat overturned and all 15 men perished
  • today granite plaque memorial near station house

GAINSBORO [ 1838 ]

  • the brig ran aground and broke up
    cargo was washed ashore and had to be protected
    by the police from looters
    (not an uncommon occurrence)

UNKNOWN VESSEL [ 1800s ]

  • mystery wreckage found off Muglins Island, Dalkey
    but no records of any losses in this location exist

AID [ 1803 ]

  • sailing vessel, sunk south of Dalkey Island
  • cargo of marble statues lost

[ BODIES ]

  • sight of bodies washed ashore was not uncommon

[ CARGO ]

  • was regularly washed ashore and
    often had to be protected from plundering by:
    Police Constables, Custom & Excise Officers,
    Coastguards

[ SALVAGE ]

LOST CARGO

  • included perishables such as:
  • potatoes, vegetables, fruit, malt
  • fish, salt, furniture
    but also valuables worth salvaging:
  • casks of wine, brandy and gin
  • coal, iron ingots, limestone
  • marble statues, guns, cannons

DIVING BELLS

  • ancient diving device (possibly used BC)
  • pressurised underwater work environment
  • work radius fairly restricted
  • surface dependent
  • sometimes underwater base for divers
  • surviving example at Rogerson's Quay
    used for harbour works

HARD-HAT DIVING SUITS

  • most popular: Mark V helmet
  • surface air-supply from boat or shore through
    bellows (later steam pumps) and hoses
  • slow and strenuous work but
    more flexible than diving bells
  • successfully used all over the world until today

[ DIVING ]

SCUBA = self contained underwater breathing apparatus

  • discover wrecks through recreational diving
  • a wealth of wrecks and artefacts to be investigated
  • unique opportunity to explore maritime history first hand
  • visibility can be rather poor
  • water temperatures fairly low (dry-suit recommended)

Dive responsibly!

BASIC RULES OF WRECK DIVING

  • A torch is essential (preferably 2nd for back-up)
  • Avoid swim-throughs if unknown/restricted/silted up
  • Beware of currents and tides
  • Dive around low water slack (min. depth and currents)
  • Don't dive unknown wrecks
  • Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but bubbles

Recommended Reading

  • Edward J. Bourke: Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast
  • Richard & Bridget Larn: Shipwreck Index of Ireland
  • www.irishwrecksonline.net

QUERIES & COMMENTS

For comments or queries regarding the above
you can contact the author at:
NOSPAMheritage_events@yahoo.com
(remove NOSPAM from the address to send)

 

 

Excerpt from "Shipwrecks of Dún Laoghaire and Dublin" Presentation
on 11/09/03 during Duchas Heritage Week © Marc Zimmermann 2003

 

Download this article in Word Doc Format (26kb)

 

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