Dún Laoghaire drowning victims honoured

A plaque to commemorate the 400 Irish people who lost their lives when their ships ran aground 200 years ago in Dublin Bay on…

A plaque to commemorate the 400 Irish people who lost their lives when their ships ran aground 200 years ago in Dublin Bay on November 19th, 1807, was unveiled yesterday in Dún Laoghaire.

The commemoration ceremony was organised by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council at the Martello Tower in Seapoint. The 400 Irish men, women and children lost their lives when the Prince of Wales and the Rochdale ran aground on the south coast of the bay.

An Cathaoirleach Cllr Dennis O'Callaghan unveiled a plaque and cast a wreath out to sea to commemorate the lives of the victims. Many victims were buried locally in Carrickbrennan and Merrion graveyards, Dr Edward Bourke, author and maritime historian told the gathering which also heard that the tragedy was a spur to build DúLaoghaire harbour in 1815.