Remembering Cork marine tragedy

A COMMEMORATIVE event to mark the 83rd anniversary of the sinking of the SS Ardmore was held in the city on Saturday.

The event was the third annual commemoration organised by Dillons Cross resident Noel Raymond, whose granduncle Michael died in the maritime tragedy.

The SS Ardmore left her berth at Penrose Quay with a cargo of livestock bound for Fishguard in Wales on November 11, 1940, but was never seen again. Twenty-four men, including 16 from Cork, were on board.

What caused the demise of SS Ardmore was not confirmed for nearly 60 years, but it was feared she might have struck a mine.

This theory was proved correct in February 1998 when the wreck of SS Ardmore was located by divers three miles from the Saltee Islands in 183ft of water.

Family members of those who perished in the tragedy gathered at the commemorative plaque on Michael Collins Bridge on Saturday, where prayers were led by Fr Marius O’Reilly before a member of the Butter Exchange Band performed ‘The Last Post’.

“I think every year it’s growing,” Mr Raymond said of the commemorative event.

He said a ship of the same name was lost in the previous World War, and he would like to see a plaque with the crew who died in that ship placed alongside the existing one on Michael Collins Bridge.

This was echoed by Independent councillor Ken O’Flynn, who was deputising for the Lord Mayor at the event.

“This is something that’s very significant, not just to the people of Wales and Ireland, but in particular, it’s very significant to the people of Cork, and, if I’m going to be very parochial about it, to the people of Blackpool,” he said.

“Many of the people who sailed on this boat who were lost, about 80% of them would have been from my family parish of Blackpool,” Mr O’Flynn said of the ship that went down in 1940.

“I feel we have a huge maritime history, and a lot of it is untold.

“I’m delighted we have the plaque here — there’s actually a need for an additional plaque because there’s an Ardmore one and an Ardmore two,” he added.

Among the relatives present at Saturday’s commemoration was Noel O’Regan, whose great-grandfather Thomas was on board the ill-fated ship in 1940.

“What’s unique about it is he was the oldest man on board, he was actually 66 years of age,” he told The Echo.

“He was actually working on these quays as a customs officer.

“He actually had experience in the Royal Navy as a chief stoker and they needed a stoker in a hurry because, at the time, it was very hard to get people to go across to England, as it was a time of war.

“He decided the night before, told his family… and they heard no more from him.”