SHIPWRECKS

About \| Shipwrecks



Both world wars (1914-1918 & 1939-1945) saw numerous shipping causalities in this area. In the First World War this was a favourite hunting ground of German U-boats which on occasion entered the area and attacked passing ships. Most of the wrecks which now litter the sea bed in the "graveyard of a thousand ships" are from this period. In the Second World War more ships went to the bottom		of this "graveyard" not only because of submarines but also of the great minefield which stretched across St. Georges Channel from the Saltees to the coast of Devon. Many of these mines broke loose and exploded on impact with the rocks and lower cliffs of the Great Saltee. Evidence can still be seen of these explosions from Sebber Bridge to Hell Hole.

Year	Name of Vessel	Type of Vessel	Cargo

1643	HOPEWELL	SAIL VESSEL	TROOPS FOR DUNCANNON FORT
1756	GEORGE & MARY	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1764	ELIZABETH	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1767	HUNTER	SLOOP OF WAR	CREW
1767	NANCY	LIVERPOOL SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1769	NANCY	BRIG	COTTON, OIL, COAL-TAR
1784	MARY	SAIL VESSEL	FRUIT & IRON
1787	UNKNOWN	WEST INDIAMAN	SUGAR, RUM & COTTON
1794	AURORA	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1798	KITTY	SAIL VESSEL - 251 tons
1799	PEACE & PLENTY	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1804	SWAN	WHITEHAVEN SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1807	CONCORDIA	BRIG	UNKNOWN
1808	MINERVA	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1808	NYMPH	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1808	TOE AMERICA	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1811	PAQUETTO FELIX	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1811	UNKNOWN	NORWEGIAN SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1812	HOPE	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1813	GENERAL BURGOYNE	SAIL VESSEL	COAL
1813	RELIANCE	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1818	FRANCES	BRIG	GRAIN
1818	KING GEORGE	CORK SAIL VESSEL	WHEAT
1821	PEGGY & JENNY	DUMFRIES SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1822	FLY	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1824	LIVELY KATE	SCHOONER	TIMBER
1825	UNKNOWN	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1826	PROGRESS	FULL RIGGED BRIG - 275 tons	TIMBER
1833	WATER WITCH	LIVERPOOL PADDLE STEAMER	GENERAL & COTTON
1835	MARY	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1838	FRANCES	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1839	FELIX PENSAMIENTO	BRIG	UNKNOWN
1840	AMERICA	SAIL VESSEL	COTTON & WINE
1840	FRANCIS	BRIG	GRAIN
1840	LIVELY KATE	SCHOONER	GRAIN
1840	MARGARETTA	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1840	URANIA	VALETTA SAIL VESSEL	WHEAT
1844	SARAH	CORK SCHOONER - 54 tons	UNKNOWN
1846	FLY	BRIG	SALT & FRUIT
1846	REBECCA	SAIL VESSEL	GENERAL
1846	ROYAL GEORGE	CUTTER	GRAIN
1846	UNKNOWN	SLOOP	GRAIN
1846	UNKNOWN	MALTESE VESSEL	GRAIN
1846	UNKNOWN	BRIG	COAL
1846	UNKNOWN	BRIG	WINE & BRANDY
1852	PROVIDENCE	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1855	BON ACCORD	BARQUE - 600 tons	RUM, HIDES, SPICES
1859	UNKNOWN	SAIL VESSEL	CORN
1860	BURBONA	HARTLEPOOL BRIG	CAST IRON INGOTS
1861	UNKNOWN	SAIL VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1863	LA VIFRIDO	SPANISH IRON STEAMER	FRUIT, WINE, IVORY & COWS
1867	FAERIE QUEEN	GREENOCK SCHOONER - 183 tons	MUSKETS & POWDER
1869	ISABELLA	CARDIFF BRIG - 172 tons	280 TONS COAL
1869	TIPPERARY LASS	GALWAY HOOKER - 23 tons	STONES
1878	S.S.IDAHO
1879	BROTHER JONATHAN	QUEENSTOWN PADDLE TUG	CREW
1881	MACHAEVELLI	BARQUE - 485 tons	BOXWOOD
1883	CHITA	UNKNOWN	UNKNOWN
1884	LARNE	NEWRY STEAMER - 103 tons	SEAWEED & PASSENGERS
1885	ANTELOPE	AMERICAN VESSEL	UNKNOWN
1890	FAIRY QUEEN	UNKNOWN	MUSKETS
1891	HERO	MILFORD SAIL VESSEL-33 tons	BALLAST
1895	CITIZEN OF YOUGHAL	YOUGHAL BRIGANTINE - 207tons	COAL
1895	MARGUERITE	DUNKIRK STEAMER - 1051 tons	UNKNOWN
1895	MONMOUTH	STEAM TRAWLER - 140 tons	BALLAST
1896	LAUREL	HULL STEAM TRAWLER - 102 tons	BALLAST
1900	LOUISA	DARTMOUTH VESSEL	COAL
1902	PANDORA	LEITH KETCH - 54 tons	COPPER ORE
1903	DORIS	MILFORD HAVEN STEEL STEAM TRAWLER	BALLAST
1908	TANTALLON CASTLE	MILFORD STEAM TRAWLER - 184 tons	BALLAST
1917	S.S.LENNOX	LEITH STEEL STEAMER - 3677 tons	COAL
1932	STROMO	GRIMSBY STEEL STEAM TRAWLER	BALLAST
1940	S.S. ARDMORE		CATTLE & PIGS
1942	S.S.LANABRONE	UNKNOWN	COAL
1953	HERO	MOTOR TRAWLER - 217 tons	BALLAST
1957	AUGUSTE MAURICE	FRENCH WOODEN MOTOR TRAWLER	FISH
1995	CHERBOURG TECH.	RACING YACHT - 53 ft.	CREW
1995	NEW ROSS	IRISH TUG	BALLAST

S.S. Idaho

The S.S. Idaho struck Coningbeg Rock on 1st June 1878. She had left New York bound for Liverpool. The wreck was located in 1976. Its anchor was raised in 1988 and now adorns the bow of the Guillemot Museum Ship at Kilmore Quay.

	Coningmor Rock: This is the larger of the two Coning Rocks, it can be seen as it lies above thewater. The area is full of seals. The general depth is around 20-30m.
	Coningbeg Rock: The remains of a lighthouse foundations may be seen around the bottom as well as parts of an unknown wreck. Like it's larger namesake its prone to strong currents.

S.S. Lennox

The S.S. Lennox was sunk when she was chased by a submarine onto rocks at the back of the Great Saltee. The wreck lays in 10-18m of water at the back of the Great Saltee parallel to the Collough Rocks.

S.S. Ardmore

Mined & sunk off the Saltee Islands 12th November 1940

The SS Ardmore left Cork for Fishguard at approximately 20.00 Hours on the night of Monday 11th of November 1940. Research from intelligence documentation indicates that the Ardmore was last seen in Cobh as she proceeded from Cobh Harbour. She was logged passing the Ballycotton look out post at 22.20 hours. She was then logged by the Knockadoon Head look out post at 22.55 hours

Nothing more was heard from the Ardmore until wreckage was spotted coming ashore on the 20th of November 1940 off St Davids Head in South Wales. Wreckage including dead animals was also washed up on the rocks of the Great Saltee.

German Military Archives indicate that there was no U- Boat activity within this area from the 11th to the 12th of November 1940.

It was concluded that the Ardmore and her crew of 24 were lost as a result of a mine explosion to her mid-section off the Great Saltee Islands, Co Wexford between 24.00 hours and 04.00 hours on or about Tuesday morning the 12th of November 1940.

S.S. Lanabrone

	On June 21st 1942 the S.S. Lanabrone went aground on the Great Saltee at the ring.

www.salteeislands.info - official web site - www.salteeislands.info