Word's first museum dedicated to ill-fated RMS Lusitania to be built in Cork
The Cunard liner was torpedoed by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915 off Kinsale, with the loss of 1,198 lives
The Lusitania museum is set to be located next to the restored Signal Tower and garden of remembrance at the Old Head of Kinsale. Picture: Larry Cummins
Plans are underway in Cork to build the world’s first dedicated museum to commemorate one of the worst maritime disasters in history, which ultimately resulted in the USA joining the Allies against the Germans in the First World War.
A community-led organisation is to build the €7.5m museum dedicated to the Lusitania sinking at the Old Head of Kinsale.
It will be built next to the old signal house the group renovated in 2015 and the garden of remembrance created in 2017, which details the names of all who died and survived the liner’s 1915 sinking off Kinsale.
The ill-fated Lusitanua on an earlier visit to Cork Harbour. The sinking of the ship ultimately resulted in the USA joining the Allies against the Germans in the First World War.
The liner was torpedoed by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915.
It took just 20 minutes for the ship, which was carrying 1,959 passengers and crew, to sink. The death toll of 1,198 included 128 US citizens, whose loss was eventually to bring America into the Great War.
“It will be the world’s first dedicated museum for the Lusitania, and we hope to start construction on it before the end of 2028 and have it open in 2030,” said Shannon Forde, the organisation’s manager.
The group owns the wreck and already has an impressive stockpile of Lusitania memorabilia, including portholes and telegraphs from the vessel.
“A lot of relatives have memorabilia that they are also willing to give to us, they include plates from the liner, as well as letters and postcards associated with those who were on it,” Ms Forde said.
She said they are working with the Heritage Council to ensure the museum has top quality standards for showcasing and preserving the historic artefacts.
Proposed interior for the new Lusitania museum.
Cork County Council has granted planning permission for the museum and funding for it is expected to come from Fáilte Ireland schemes along the Wild Atlantic Way, the Rural Regeneration Fund, and the Ireland Fund.
Local fundraising will also be involved and to kickstart it the organisation is hosting an event at St Catherine’s Cultural Centre, Kinsale, next Thursday, November 5 at 7pm.
It will be addressed by Mike Brady, founder of Oceanliner Designs, an international maritime history platform with almost one million YouTube subscribers. He is travelling from Australia for the event.
In addition, there will be a presentation by artist and art teacher Áine Andrews who will explore Hugh Lane, the Cork-born art dealer, philanthropist and patron of modern art who died aboard the Lusitania. There will also be the launch of a fundraising video.
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