Centenary of the tragic sinking of SS Dundalk
PLANS to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the S.S Dundalk will begin with a public meeting in the County Museum on February 1st.
The meeting, which is being organised by family members of those involved in the tragedy will set out plans to mark the centenary of the sinking in October.
Anne Howard, whose grandfather died in the sinking said that the torpedoing of the S.S Dundalk was one of the most significant events to affect the town during the First World War.’
She added: ‘We hope that this meeting will allow us to mark the centenary in a meaningful way. We know that the County Museum is aleeady planning an exhibition, and I am sure this will compliment our own plans as they develop and take shape.’
THE SS Dundalk, a twin screw steamer, was built for the Dundalk and Newry Steampacket Company in Ardcrossan in 1899 for the handsome sum of £40,000.
The SS Dundalk’s sleek outline soon became a familiar sight on both sides of the Irish Sea, as she plied her trade.
The SS Dundalk had its first hostile encounter with a German sub on December 16th 1917 when on a regular sailing to England, it was attacked in the war zone.
But fate continued to stalk the SS Dundalk and on a cold October 14th 1918 night as she sailed from Liverpool out into the Irish Sea, tragedy struck.
The torpedo struck the ship fair amidships, exploding in the engine room and blowing away the whole centre part of the vessel, practically breaking her in two.
Immediately the ship was struck, the men on deck instinctively rushed to the lifeboats, and it appears that two of these boats were successfully launched.
Two men got into one of the boats and picked up five others from the water, and the second boat got away with four or five men. Both lifeboats remained in the vicinity for some time hoping to pick up other survivors, but it was apparent that all the others on board had perished.
For 17 gruelling hours, they barely kept afloat, rowing constantly and continuously bailing out their damaged boat which repeatedly filled with water.
A special stained glass window and plaque in memory of those who died in the disaster was erected by the Steampacket Company and is in St Patrick’s Cathedral.
The following people lost their lives: Edward Bennett, Patrick Hughes, Vincent Morgan, Samuel Cocks, Edward Johnston, John Muckian, Margaret Creegan, Francis Kieran, Hugh O’Neill (captain), Joseph Fox, William McKeown, Peter Sloan, Joesph Halpenny, Peter Matthews, John Stacks, James Hernon, Patrick Melia, Daniel Stowell and Thomas Tuite.
More information about the meeting can be obtained by contacting ssdundalk@hotmail.com.
The meeting will take place on Thursday 1st February at pm in the County Museum. All are welcome. Tea and coffee refreshments will be served.