Ceremonies in Cork Harbour have taken place at the weekend to mark the 80th anniversary of a maritime tragedy.

The commemorations marked the anniversary of the Cork Harbour Tragedy, which occurred on 12th December, 1942.

Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), or the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel had organised the events to mark the tragic incident involving two launch boats that collided with the propellers of Irish Poplar, a former Greek cargoship.

The cargoship became the first vessel of Irish Shipping Ltd which was formed one year before the tragedy. The deepsea cargoship was tasked by ISL in bringing vital food supplies to Ireland during WW2. 

The incident in Cork Harbour had resulted in the deaths of five sailors but the bodies of two of the men were never recovered.

The first of the ceremonies, on Friday saw the Naval Service LÉ William Butler Yeats depart Cobh's Deepwater Quay with families of the deceased victims on board the offshore patrol vessel (OPV) which travelled to Dognose Buoy.

The bouy is where the tragedy occurred and is located in the centre of Cork Harbour, between Camden and the approach to Whitegate.

There families laid flowers and wreaths on the water and prayers were also recited.

EchoLive has more on the tragedy in which Mick McCarthy, secretary of the Cobh branch of ONE described it as an “intimate and emotional ceremony”.

The organisation ONE, Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (or the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel) has today announced, it will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Cork Harbour Tragedy this weekend.

Events will take place on Friday, 9th and Saturday 10th December, at Deepwater Quay, Cobh. The tragic incident, which occurred in 1942, saw two launch boats collide with the propellers of the Irish Poplar, resulting in the deaths of five sailors.

The Cork Harbour Tragedy memorial weekend will commence at 10:00am on the 9th of December. It will see the Naval Service offshore patrol vessel (OPV) L.E. William Butler Yeats depart Deepwater Quay in Cobh, with the families of the deceased victims onboard. They will travel to the Dognose Buoy – the location where the tragedy occurred. Members from the Port of Cork, the Irish Naval Service, the Ballycoton Lifeboat, and local Fishermen, will follow the ship on its journey. It will then return to Cobh where the families will disembark.

On the 10th of December, St Colman’s Cathedral Cobh will host a memorial Mass at 10:00am, celebrating the lives of the sailors. The choir from Bunscoil Rinn an Cabhaligh will sing at the Mass which will include a Hymn written by the Deputy Principal Alan Carney dedicated to the deceased men.

Following the ceremony, the Group will parade to the Monument on East Beach Cobh for wreath-laying. In addition to this, The National Flag will be flown at half-mast where wreaths will be laid.

The Mayor of County Cork will be represented by councillor Cathal Rasmussen and will be joined by local TDs and other dignitaries. Members of the Defence Forces, the Royal Naval Association, ONE members and members of the deceased families will be present.

ONE has helped over 1,000 veterans build their lives post-service to the Irish Defence Forces. The charity currently provides accommodation and meals for over 50 veterans, who would otherwise be homeless.

Speaking ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Cork Harbour Tragedy, CEO of ONE Cormac Kirwan said: “ONE is proud to be hosting part of the remembrance ceremonies in memory of the tragic deaths of John Higgins, Patrick Wilshaw, Frank Powell, William Duggan and Frank Lloyd, who lost their lives on active service in Ireland during the Second World War or The Emergency as it was known. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam usual.”

#HistoricBoats - As the trumpeter sounded the Last Post reports the Evening Echo, it was an emotional time as those attendent and sang ‘Abide With Me’, while the names of five men who died in Cork Harbour just before Christmas in 1942 were recalled.

They were John Higgins, Patrick Wilshaw, Frank Powell, William Duggan and Frank Lloyd.

“These men were the only people that lost their lives on active service to the country during the Second World War. They lost their lives on service to the nation in Cork Harbour,” said Fred Crudge, Chairman of the Cobh Branch of the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women.

While Christmas is a time of celebration and enjoyment, it is also a time of remembrance of tragedy in two Cork coastal communities – at Cobh and in Castletownbere.

In Cobh on Saturday morning, what is known as the Irish Poplar tragedy was recalled.

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