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Dungarvan diver Eoin McGarry has dived to the wreck of the Lusitania.

Next month, four coastal communities in Co Cork are coming together to host a series of commemorative events, entitled Lusitania100 Cork to mark the centenary of the sinking of the ship by a German U-boat off the coast of the county on May 7, 1915

It’s worth remembering that in 1915, The Avondhu circulation area was home to numerous ticket agents for the Cunard Line sailings from Liverpool to New York. They included Mrs A Hackett, Clogheen; J Baylor, Fermoy; Jas Ahern; J L F Fairbrother, Mitchelstown; J Donaldson, Kilworth; J O’Mahony Cahir; M J O’Donnell, Kildorrery; W Gallagher, Doneraile; William Carey, Tallow; Mrs K Begley, Cappoquin; Michael O’Brien, Ballyporeen and R F Ryan, Fermoy. Passengers could choose from 4 ships: Franconia, Orduna, Transylvania or Lusitania.

TRAGEDY

The Lusitania tragedy that resulted in 1,201 people losing their lives occurred as the ship sailed to Liverpool from New York during the First World War. Amongst those who perished were Kilmallock natives Joseph and Teresa Feeley and 23-year-old Katherine Gleason who was returning from Chicago to see her family.

Kinsale, The Old Head, Cobh and Courtmacsherry in Co Cork, in association with Cork County Council, will pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in 1915 and remember the gallant efforts of their ancestors who responded with great courage and compassion to rescue survivors, comfort the bereaved and recover the dead, in ordinary fishing boats and lifeboats. These communities witnessed first-hand the trauma and heartbreak of the disaster.

The Old Head of Kinsale is the point from which the Lusitania took her final bearing on May 7, 1915 and is the most prominent accessible point of land to the ship’s final resting place which is just over eleven miles due south of the Old Head Lighthouse. The old British Royal Navy watchtower of the Seven Heads peninsula in Courtmacsherry Bay is the closest point of land to the Lusitania wreck, and also home to the oldest RNLI Lifeboat Station in Ireland, which was instrumental in the aftermath of the disaster.

The mass grave at the Old Church graveyard on the Great Island of Cobh was the final resting place of the dead, and to this day there are remains that have never been named or claimed.

The commemorations for Lusitania100 Cork are vast and will include wreath laying ceremonies with President Michael D Higgins in Cobh and Minister Simon Coveney at the Lusitania Monument on the Old Head, both at 2.10pm on May 7th, the time the tragedy happened. A number of re-enactments of the tragedy will also take place.

In addition, all four communities are currently hosting a series of free lectures and exhibitions in the run up to the centenary. Further information is available on www.visitcorkcounty.com/Lusitania100Cork.

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