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History - Memorials & Monuments

In Honour & Memory

Commemorative Tower to the Hobblers

Logo: Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
Aerial View of Dun Laoghaire Harbour
Previous		 Hobblers Plaque East Marina Breakwater  

THE HOBBLERS

In June 2002 The Commemorative Tower to the Hobblers by Fiona Mulholland was unveiled at the East Marina breakwater in Dun Laoghaire harbour.

Hobbling was the name given to unofficial but accepted practice of piloting of ships into port. Although hobbling is described in the Oxford Dictionary as "unlicensed pilotage" the hobblers of the East Coast were generally only involved in tying up the ships at their moorings in Dublin and other Ports. However, on occasions they did pilot some ships into harbour. Many of the hobblers got the approximate time of arrival of the ships from Lloyds Gazette, while others went out in the bay in the hope of sighting a ship.

Hobblers Monument East Marina Breakwater

Hobbling was an extremely dangerous occupation, many hobblers who went to sea in open skiffs lost their lives. On the morning of the 6th December 1934 the people of Dun Laoghaire and Ringsend were shocked to learn of the drowning of three young Dun Laoghaire hobblers in Dublin Bay the previous evening. The Hobblers' as recalled by Dr. John dc Courcy Ireland "were sailing boat owners, sometimes truly skilled, often rash, bat nearly always poor, who rowed and sailed his boat not for pleasure but to earn a paltry living".

Hobbling died out partly as a result of the introduction of a contract system between ship agents and boatmen, and partly as a result of the 1934 tragedy.

All images and descriptive text used with permission Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council

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Now published and available to purchase for €10 in all good book shops, or order via email tcarey@dlrcoco.ie, and to order via telephone ring +353 1 205 4868. Please visit the Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council web site http://www.dlrcoco.ie

 

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