What the Coastwatchers saw from LOP 63, Teachaín a’Watch, Portacloy, 1939-1945, WW2
© photo courtesy of The Irish Air Corps
Céard a Chonaic na Fir Faire ó Theach Faire 63, Teachaín a’ Watch, Port a’ Chlóidh, 1939-1945.
photo © Tim Schmelzer
WELCOME to the Look-Out Post 63 website where we aim to tell the story of what the Coastwatchers saw from this small concrete hut, LOP63 during World War 2 (1939-1945). The viewer is invited to scroll down through the various sections and read the information, click on the photographs and links to expand the topics covered. Alternatively, please use the navigation guide on the top right hand corner.
We aim to illustrate the concrete building itself, the logbooks kept by the Coastwatchers-Volunteers, local history, training notebooks, sightings from the post of vessels at Sea and planes in the Air. We commemorate the loss of life at sea during WW2. There is also a contemporary visual artists response page where each artist interprets this valuable story in our recent history.
Fáilte go suíomh idirlíne Teach Faire 63 (Teachaín a’ Watch), áit a bhfuil sé mar aidhm againn scéal na bhFear Faire, agus an méid a chonaic siad ón teach faire seo i rith an Dara Chogadh Domhanda (1939-1945), a chur faoi bhráid an phobail. Tugtar cuireadh don bhreathnóir dul síos tríd na rannóga éagsúla chun an t-eolas a léamh,agus cliceáil ar na grianghraif agus ar na nascanna le níos mó eolais a fháil Nó is féidir leat úsáid a bhaint as an treoir loingseoireachta ar chúinne uachtarach na láimhe deise. Tá sé mar aidhm againn léargas a thabhairt ar an bhfoirgneamh coincréite féin, na log-leabhair a choinnigh na Fir Faire–Oibrithe Deonacha, stair áitiúil, leabhair nótaí traenála, radharcanna ón bpost ar na soithigh a bhí ar an bhFarraige agus ar na heitleáin a bhí san Aer. Déanann muid comóradh agus tugann muid chun chuimhne na daoine a chailleadh ar an bhfarraige i rith an Dara Chogadh Domhanda. Tá rannóg ann freisin d’fhísealaíontóirí comhaimseartha, áit a dhéanann chuile ealaíontóir léirmhíniú ar an scéal luachmhar seo inár stair úrnua.
Look-Out Post 63, The location.
Teach Faire 63, An Suíomh.
Portacloy, No.63 Look Out Post, No. 13 District, North Mayo, Western Command. 54° 20' 34.94" N 9° 46' 50.2201" W
In September 1939 as the Coastwatching service commenced around the coast of Neutral Ireland, look-out post 63 was named LOP63 Benwee Head. Within weeks this name was changed to LOP63 Portacloy. It is in fact situated in the bordering townland of Ceathrú na gCloch (Stonefield) on the western side of Portacloy Bay. On 21st October 2014 it was demolished by a storm. This website is the documentation and process of the rebuilding.
Tabhair faoi deara le do thoil gur Port a’ Chlóidh atá luaite le Teach Faire 63 (Teachaín a’ Watch) ins na cartlanna sa gCartlann Mhíleata, Dún Chathail Bhrugha cé gur i mbaile fearainn Cheathrú na gCloch (atá taobh leis) atá sé suite ar an taobh thiar de Chuan Phort a’ Chlóidh.
Maps
LOP63
In poor condition
LOP 63
After the storm
photo © Amelia Stein
A network of 83 look-out posts (LOPs) were built around the coast of Ireland during WW2 and manned by volunteers, members of the local community. The Coastwatchers who manned the posts were responsible for identifying and reporting on shipping, aircraft movements and any bodies or objects washed ashore.
Trained to observe and report each incident via telephone, the Coastwatchers recorded each sighting in log-books, now preserved in Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin. As the years progressed from 1939 to the end of World War 2 in 1945, the men attended training courses and became skilled at accurate reporting and recording of what was seen and heard off the shores of Neutral Ireland. At first, they worked from tents until a standard-issue concrete block look-out post was delivered in pre-cast sections to a specific location and assembled there. They were operational with a telephone line which communicated all sightings to a central point of authority. The posts were manned by 2 men, 1 inside and 1 outside in all weathers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Marine and Coastwatching Service was disbanded in June 1945.
Tógadh líonra de 83 TITHE FAIRE thart ar chósta na hÉireann a bhí faoi fhoireannaithe oibrithe deonacha áitiúla ón gceantar máguaird. Bhí sé mar chúram ag na Fir Faire seo aon bhád, long nó eitleán a aithint agus a thuairisciú maraon le haon chorp nó ábhar a tháinig i dtír leis an taoile.
Bhí traenáil faighte acu chuile eachtra a thuairisciú ar an teileafón agus choinnigh na Fir Faire tuairisc ar chuile rud a chonaic siad i Log-leabhair, atá caomhnaithe sa gCartlann Mhíleata, Dún Chathail Bhrugha, Baile Átha Cliath.De réir mar a chuaigh na blianta thart ó 1939 go deireadh an Dara Chogadh Domhanda i 1945, d’freastal na fir ar chúrsaí traenála agus d’éirigh siad oilte mar thuairisceoirí beachta, ag taifeadú na heachtraí éagsúla a bhí le feiceáil amach ó chósta Éireann neodrach. I dtús báire, d’oibrigh siad ó phubaill go dtí gur tógadh teach faire ag gach suíomh le bloic choincréite réamh-dhéanta a bhí curtha le chéile ar an laithreán. Thuairisc siad na rudaí a chonaic siad ar línte teileafóin go lárphointe údárais – beirt fhear, fear taobh istigh agus fear taobh amuigh den bhfoirgneamh i chuile chineál aimsire, 24 uair a’chloig sa lá, 7 lá na seachtaine. Cuireadh deireadh leis an tSeirbhís Faire Chósta agus Mara i Meitheamh 1945.
LOP 63, The building.
Drawings and Specifications. Léaráidí agus Sonraíochtaí.
Portacloy, No. 63 look-out post, No. 13 District, North Mayo, Western Command.
At the outbreak of the war in September 1939, the Coastwatching Service was established firstly in a tent out on the headland to the left of the Bay at Portacloy. This was eventually replaced by a precast concrete hut structure. In the 3 sections below we show the original Approved Drawings for Contractor Purposes, the Specification for construction of the concrete hut and the finely drawn Architects Construction Drawings.
Imagine how difficult the task of Coastwatching was during the late winter of 1939 and the early months of 1940. The volunteers kept notes, all descriptions of their sightings at sea or in the air. The reporting and note-taking in the log-books was at its infancy at this time. Accuracy, details and note-taking were to improve with time and training.
Approved Drawings for Contractor Purposes
© RIA
Architect Construction Drawings
© RIA
Specification for construction of concrete hut
© RIA
Documents © National Archives of Ireland. OPW Series.
The Coastwatchers and the District Officer.
The Coastwatchers. Na Fir Faire.
The Coastwatchers at LOP 63 came from the surrounding townlands. During the late winter of 1939 and the early months of 1940, the volunteers’ task of note-keeping commenced. Their duties focused on maintaining a written record in the LOP note-books of the sightings-soundings at sea or in the air, and also the weather conditions. In 1939 this process was in its infancy, but the accuracy and details were to improve over time and with training. LOP 63 had a direct telephone line installed to enable contact to be made with the central authorities. The time was also synchronized between LOPs and thus the movements of aircraft/shipping could be accurately mapped between neighbouring LOPs.
The daily events from all 83 LOPs in addition to local Garda information, were collated into the G2 Daily Report Summary which attempted to paint an accurate picture of all of the activity off the coast of Neutral Ireland, during the Emergency. Individual Coastwatchers were reporting on what they saw in their given locality. They did not have the bigger picture available to them and never knew how their collective reports were collated and interpreted by the Command Intelligence Officer (CIO) and his superiors in G2.
About the coast-watchers
Volunteers at LOP 63
Coast- watchers Memorandum
Is as na bailte fearainn máguaird a tháinig na Fir Faire a bhí lonnaithe ag Teach Faire 63. Ag tarraingt ar dheireadh an gheimhridh 1939 agus go luath i 1940 thosaigh na hoibrithe deonacha seo ag coinneáil nótaí nó cuntais sna log-leabhair de na rudaí a bhí le feiceáil san aer agus ar an bhfarraige, maraon le coinníollacha aimsire. Bhí an próiseas seo ina thús i 1939 agus na cuntais bunusach go leor, ach le himeacht ama agus le traenáil d’éirigh na cuntais níos cruinne le níos mhion-shonraithe. Cuireadh isteach líne dhíreach teileafóin ag Teach Faire 63 le teagmháil díreach a dhéanamh leis na húdaráis lárnach. Rinneadh sioncronú ar an am idir na tithe faire chomh maith. Mar sin d’fhéadfaí gluaiseachtaí eitleáin agus loinge a mhapáil go cruinn ó theach faire go teach faire.
Thiomsaíodh eachtraí laethúla ó na 83 teach faire, maraon le h-eolas áitiúil na nGardaí, in Achoimre ar Thuarascáil Laethúil an G2 a rinne iarracht léargas cruinn a thabhairt ar na heachtraí uilig a tharla amach ó chósta neodrach na hÉireann sa nGéarchéim. Bhí na fir faire aonaracha ag tuairisciú na rudaí a bhí ag tarlú ina gceantracha féin. Ní raibh an scéal iomlán acu ag aon am agus níor thuig siad an bealach a d’úsáid an tOifigeach i gCeannas Faisnéise agus a nGaroifigí i G2 a gcuid tuairiscí.
J.A. Caulfield, The District Officer. Seamus Mac Conghamhna
Coastwatchers at LOP 63 were supervised by the District Officer for District 13, J.A Caulfield.
J.A. Caulfield (Seamus Mac Conghamhna) was the District Officer whose duties included visiting the LOPs in District 13 and ensuring that the coastwatching duties were being performed correctly. The payroll documentation is courtesy of Prof. Seamus Caulfield and can be viewed, the link below
Reconstruction of Teachaín a’ Watch.
The reconstruction of look-out post 63 consisted of planning by the LOP63 team, working with the Local Rural Social Scheme, with the guidance of Structural Engineer, Jim Mansfield and the contribution of the Irish Air Corps. Their Helicopter lift of the building materials out to the location all enabled the LOP63 rebuild.
Structural Engineer
Jim Mansfield.
Irish Air Corps Helicopter lift.
The Rural Social Scheme, the rebuild.
LOP63, Oral History from the location.
Teach Faire 63, Ó Bhéal na nDaoine.
LOP63 The Oral History, focuses on the memories of the following; Seamus McGrath who was an eyewitness to the building of Teach a’ Watch, (below is a transcription of a telephone interview recalling the details, including the payment for the donkey that carried out the building materials); Micheal Garvin recalls his mother’s emotional response at the retrieval of the body of a drowned seaman J.H. Warham; Caitlín Uí Sheighin and her recollection of visiting her father, one of the Coastwatchers out at Teacháin a’ Watch.
Seamus McGrath.
Eye witness Recording of the Building of LOP63
Micheál Ó Gearbháin.
The experience his mother recalled on the recovery of the body of JH Warham
Caitlín Uí Sheighin.
Visit to her father, on duty at LOP63
WW2 in North Mayo:
What the Coastwatchers saw from LOP63. (Teachaín a' Watch)
Heritage Week Talk, Ceathrú Thaidhg, Co Mayo. 18th August 2018.
Dr Michael Kennedy, Author, “Guarding Neutral Ireland”, The Coastwatching Service and Military Intelligence 1939-1945. Published, Four Courts Press.
LOP63.
The Logbooks, the daily recording of sightings in the air and on the sea in the logbooks by the Coastwatchers.
The Coastwatchers at LOP63 spoke in Irish, however the notebooks were kept in English. It is also noteworthy that perhaps on days when there were few events the sightings were written into the books directly after they were reported by telephone. On busy days however note taking of events may have been made on a separate page when there were multiple entries of eg. flights sighted overhead and written up later, as there is a continuity in the flow of the script.
The LOP63
Logbook Covers
Military Archives and The Logbooks, LOP63
The Digitization project,
Helen Keogh
All Documentation courtesy of Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks.
John Burns Notebooks.
Leabhair Nótaí John Burns.
The Coastwatchers from each LOP went on training courses to improve their skills. The John Burn’s notebooks, LOP63, appear to be the only notebooks still in existence and provide an invaluable insight into the duties and skills of the volunteers.
John Burn’s Training notebooks are held in the Collection, Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, Ireland. Their presence in the collection is due to the work of retired Comdt. Owen Quinn who was researching a proposed publication about the WW2 LOPs, under the working title, “The Saygulls”. Quinn had a letter published in “The Western People”, a Mayo newspaper asking for help with information regarding the Marine and Coastwatching Services or “the Coastwatchers” during WW2. John P. Burns, a local man on reading this letter sent along the notebooks of his father John F. Burns, a former Volunteer Coastwatcher at LOP63 to Quinn. The letter from John P. Burns to Quinn describes them as “old notebooks containing notes taken on various courses in Collins Barracks, Dublin and elsewhere”.
These notebooks which so easily could have been lost, are an invaluable insight into the training and duties of the Volunteers, the Coastwatchers, 1939-1945. Closer examination reveals that there are several different handwriting styles, some pages may be from other volunteers’ notebooks or pages have been combined from other notebooks. Quinn visited Portacloy on 10th June 1987, with a photographer. Two of the photographs taken (shown below) which are annotated on the back, show the condition of LOP63 at this time.
When Comdt. Owen Quinn passed away his notes were placed in the Collection, Military Archives, Dublin. This includes the notebooks and photographs among other papers. We can perhaps assume that the Coastwatchers from the other 82 LOPs went on similar training courses. However, this appears to be the only Training Notebook still in existence. Set out below are a series of pages to view.
John Burn’s Notebooks, Courtesy Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin.
John Burn’s
Notebook
Compass
Johnny P Burns and Comdt. Owen Quinn
Mines
Comdt.Owen Quinn / Teacháin a’ Watch
20 Duties of a Coastwatcher
Tá leabhair nótaí traenála John Burns coinnithe sa mBailiúchán, sa gCartlann Mhíleata, Dún Chathail Brugha, Baile Átha Cliath. Is mar thoradh ar shaothar an Cheannfoirt Eoin Ó Cuinn, a bhí i mbun taighde ar fhoilseachán ar Thithe Faire an Dara Chogadh Domhanda faoin teideal oibre “The Saygulls”, a bhfuil na nótaí sa mBailiúchán seo. Bhí litir Uí Chuinn foilsithe sa “Western People”, nuachtán Maigh Eo, ag iarraidh chúnamh agus eolas ar an tSeirbhís Faire Chósta agus Mara nó ar na Fir Faire i rith an chogaidh. Nuair a léigh an fear áitiúil, John P. Burns, an litir seo sheol sé leabhair nótaí a athair John F. Burns, a bhí ag obair mar Fhear Faire, chuig an tUasal Ó Cuinn. Cuireann an litir a sheol John P. Burns chuig Ó Cuinn síos orthu mar “old notebooks containing notes taken on various courses in Collin’s Barracks, Dublin and elsewhere”.
Tugann na leabhair nótaí seo léargas fíor-luachmhar dúinn ar thraenáil agus ar dhualgais na bhFear Faire, idir 1939 agus 1945. Nuair a dhéantar mionscrúdú orthu tugtar faoi deara go bhfuil stíleanna difriúla scríobhneoireachta le feiceáil. B’féidir go bhfuil roinnt leathanach tógtha ó leabhair nótaí oibreacha deonacha eile, nó gur cuireadh le chéile leathanaigh ó leabhair nótaí eile. Thug an tUasal Ó Cuinn cuairt ar Phort a’Chlóidh ar an 10ú Meitheamh 1987 agus grianghrafadóir leis. Taispeánann dhá ghrianghraif a tógadh (féach thíos), a bhfuil notaí scríofa ar a gcúl, an chuma a bhí ar Theachaín a’Watch 63 ag an am seo.
Nuair a fuair an Ceannfort Eoin Ó Cuinn bás fágadh a chuid nótaí sa mBailiúchán, sa gCartlann Mhíleata, na leabhair nótaí agus na grianghraif ina measc. Tig linn glacadh leis go ndeachaigh na Fir Faire ó na 82 Teach Faire eile ar chúrsaí traenála mar an gcéanna. Is cosúil áfach, gurb é seo an t-aon Leabhair Traenála atá fós ann. Leagtha amach thíos tá roinnt leathanaigh le breathnú orthu.
John Burns Notebooks, Courtesy Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin
Leabhair Nótaí John Burns, Le caoinchead ó gCartlann Mhíleata, Dún Chathail Bhrugha, Baile Átha Cliath
WW2 in North Mayo:
G2, the Coastwatching Service and the Battle of the Atlantic, 1939-41.
This essay by Dr Michael Kennedy is an essential guide to events as seen off the North Mayo Coast during WW2, the establishment of the Look-Out Posts, The Coastwatchers and the importance of every small detail that they observed and reported which were then collated by Central Command in Dublin.
AIR.
In the AIR, North West Corner, LOP63, WW2.
Initially the Coastwatchers seem to be recording the shipping sighted with more accuracy, as they are yet to be trained in Aircraft recognition. Subsequently they went on training courses and received an official aircraft recognition book. Speed, height, direction and “W.E.F.T” were the parameters recorded, namely Wings, Engine, Fuselage, Tail. Early recordings were high-winged monoplane, low-winged monoplane, heard noise of, Anson, new type, high-winged twin engine and nationality unknown, among others. With the Battle of the Atlantic, the presence of Seaplane Bases, Landplane Bases in Northern Ireland, The Donegal Air Corridor, WW2 in Northern Ireland the frequency and complexity of aircraft sighted and recorded were to increase. (VIEW pdf of W.E.F.T chart)
Aircraft Identification Book.
Identification of foreign military Aircraft
Hudson Bombers cross the Atlantic.
First flights 10/10/40
Allied flights,Busy days
.
Coastal Patrols, reconnaissance, ferry & training flights
Axis flights and sightings North West corner.
Catalina Z/209 Squadron.
May 1941,flight from Lough Erne,Catalina Z,spots the Bismarck
The Donegal Air Corridor.
Air Bases in Northern Ireland link to ww2ni website
photo © Amelia Stein
Churchill, Sir Alan Brooke, return flight from North America. 27th June 1942, 03.00am, flight sighted and reported from LOP63
Winston Churchill accompanied by Sir Alan Brooke made a return flight from North America 27th June 1942, via Newfoundland. This was the return flight to England of the only North Atlantic round trip that Churchill made during WW2. Documentation exists from the Look Out Posts that tracked the incoming flight across the North Mayo Corner (see below). This flight is first sighted and reported from LOP 60 Blacksod, the entry in the LOP_60 log book signed by Ted Sweeny, lighthouse keeper at Blacksod Lighthouse. 02.55am, 27 June 1942. This flight is last recorded at LOP 70, St John’s Point before entering into British Airspace using the Donegal Air Corridor.
The weather forecast from Blacksod Lighthouse was to play a significant role in the timing of the DDay landing in 1944.
“Then out of the darkness dark patches loomed up out on the horizon, which turned out to be the north coast of Mayo! We soon struck the coast, only just visible in the moonlight. PM was as thrilled as I was.”
War Diaries 1939-1945. Field Marshal, Lord Alanbrooke. “Copyright permission obtained from the Trustees of Lord Alanbrooke's Settlement”.
The Men who came in with the Sea.
Na Fir a tháinig isteach leis an bhFarraige.
The Battle of the Atlantic, the longest campaign in the Second World War, took place off the coast of Ireland and was visible to the Coastwatchers as they recorded incidents in Irish Territorial waters and in the skys above their LOPs. The rising number of bodies washed ashore through the second half of 1940 was the blunt reality of the war off our neutral coast. The location, rate and date of discovery of bodies all correlate to the intensification of the Battle of the Atlantic off Ireland’s western coast during the second half of 1940. Through the summer of 1940 there were many U-Boat attacks on shipping off the North-West Coast of Ireland.
The loss of life at sea during WW2 was both substantial and tragic in this geographical area, the North West Corner of Ireland. Here we document some of the events of Summer 1940 and attempt to pay respect to those who lost their lives off the North Mayo Coast.
Troideadh Cath an Atlantaigh, an feachtas ba fhaide i rith an Dara Chogadh Domhanda, amach ó chósta na hÉireann faoi shúile na bhFear Faire agus iad ag taifeadadh eachtraí i bhfarraigí críche na hÉireann agus sa spéir os cionn na dtithe faire. Ba comhartha é an méadú a tháinig ar líon na gcorp a tháinig i dtír sa dara leath de 1940 go raibh tréan-chogaidh ar siúl amach ón ár gcósta neodrach. Léirigh suíomh, ráta agus na dátaí a fritheadh na coirp go raibh Cath an Atlantaigh ag treisiú amach ó chósta thiar na hÉireann sa dara leath de 1940. I rith an tsamhraidh i 1940 rinne U-bháid go leor ionsaithe ar bháid amach ó chósta thiar-thuaidh na hÉireann.
Ba mhór agus ba thragóideach an méid daoine a fuair bás sa bhfarraige i gcúinne thiar-thuaidh na hÉireann le linn an Dara Chogadh Domhanda. Anseo caitheann muid súil ar chuid de na heachtraí a tharla i rith an tSamhraidh i 1940 agus tugann muid ómós dóibh siúd a fuair bás amach ó chósta Maigh Eo Thuaidh.
J.H. Warham
The men who came in with the sea
Essay by Dr Michael Kennedy
SS Mohamed Ali El-Kebir
Two Bodies washed ashore
SS Arandora Star
The torpedoing of Arandora Star
Essay by Dr Michael Kennedy
Special thanks Dr Michael Kennedy RIAI, Adrian Tinniswood OBE FSA, for their contribution to this section.
ÉIRE sign, LOP63.
Restoration of the ÉIRE sign & the number 63.
Outlined and marked using quartz stone on the flat ground, not far from the look-out post itself, is the ÉIRE 63 sign. This was an important navigational marker during World War II to alert aircraft pilots that they were flying over neutral Ireland. The size and scale of the stone letters and numbers ensured that they were clearly visible from the air. With the passing of time however, the sign became masked by heather and moss. In 2007 a restoration project was undertaken by the local community. Working diligently over the summer months, the participants on the Rural Social Scheme carefully removed each stone from its original position, cleared the ground underneath of vegetation and debris, and reinstated the stones thus restoring the sign to its former condition.
Interestingly there is a Fada on the first É of the ÉIRE sign at the location of LOP63.
The ÉIRE sign
The Restoration of the Éire Sign
The Days leading up to the
DDay Landing June 1944
SEA.
On the SEA, North West Corner, LOP 63, WW2.
The Coastwatchers, many of whom would have had a knowledge of the sea around LOP63 as fishermen, were trained to recognize the type of shipping sighted, to recognize the regular patterns of colliers, trawlers, fishing boats, Irish Navy coastal vessels on patrol, including a Patrol Boat from Northern Ireland, the Robert Hastie and to spot and report unusual movements of vessels at sea.
They recorded the direction, speed and tonnage of the vessels sighted and reported each sighting. According to Johnny Burns Note books, the horizon was 18 miles out to sea. British Naval Vessels that were involved in the Battle of the Atlantic, Destroyers, Convoys and Escort Vessels were also frequently sighted far out to sea. The individual sightings from the LOP’s around the Irish Coast enabled the Irish authorities to create an accurate picture of the activity at sea off the Irish Coast during WW2.
Mar iascairí, bhí sean-aithne ag na Fir Faire ar an gcósta mórthimpeall Theachaín a’Watch 63. Fuair siad traenáil chun na báid a chonaic siad a n-aithneachtáil, agus na bealaí a ndeachaigh soithigh go rialta a thuairisciú mar ghualadóirí, trálaeir, báid iascaireachta, soithigh chósta Chabhlach na hÉireann a bhí ar phatróil, bád patróil ó Thuaisceart na hÉireann, an Robert Hastie ina measc. Bhí sé mar chúram orthu aon ghluaiseachtaí neamhghnáthacha a thuairisciú.
Thaifead siad treo, luas agus tonnáiste na soithigh uilig a chonacthas. De réir Leabhair Nótaí John Burns, bhí bun na spéire 18 míle amach ón gcósta. Chonacthas soithigh chabhlach Shasana a bhí páirteach i gCath an Atlantaigh, Scriostóirí, Tionlacain agus Soithigh Tionlacaithe go minic amach ón gcósta. Chuir na tuairiscí ó na tithe faire uilig ar chumas na n-eagras Éireannach pictiúr cruinn a chruthú ar na himeachtaí farraige mór-thimpeall chósta na hÉireann i rith an Dara Chogadh Domhanda.
SS Ashantian
27-09-1940
Submarines 1939/40
Did the coastwatchers really see them ?
SS Kyleclare, SS Moyalla, Muirchu
Irish Vessels
Incidents, May 1944
5 Destroyers
St Zeno, British Armed Trawler
25-10-1940 off Rinroe
EIRE M1 +
Robert Hastie
British Motor Torpedo boat
photo © Amelia Stein
SECRETS.
Documentation, Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks.
During the Emergency there was an understanding between Éire and the Allies. There was a sharing of information with reference to the location of the 83 LOP’s and the construction of the ÉIRE signs. There was also an awareness by the Irish Defence Forces that there would be an invasion into Europe by June 1944. There is documentation below which refers to the work on the completion and state of visibility of all the ÉIRE signs around the coast of Neutral Ireland needed by 3 June 1944.
Daily and Weekly report summaries
Visability of EIRE signs
Completed 3rd June 1944
“Rather an unnecessary request..”
18th October 1943
Documents courtesy of Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin .
LOP 63 Visual Artists response
Visual Artists Pat Harris, Amelia Stein, Selma Makela, Noah Rose, Linda Ruttelynck and Mick O’Dea have made work in response to LOP63, Teach a’Watch, local history in tandem with that of WW2 as seen of the North Mayo Corner 1939-1945, the Coastwatchers, Documentation from the RIA and Military Archives .
Pat Harris
Noah Rose
Linda Ruttelynck
Amelia Stein
Selma Makela
Mick O’Dea
The LOP63 project would like to acknowledge the support of Ealaín na Gaeltachta, their funding has enabled the individual artists responses to the LOP 63 project.
Community Engagement
Visiting Lectures and talks, School Project.
Dr Michael Kennedy,Talks at the Seanscoil , Ceathrú Thaidhg.
School Art project led by Selma Makela.
Military Archives Visit to the Seanscoil, Ceathrú Thaidhg.
Visual Artist Selma Makela undertook a painting workshop with a Secondary School in Belmullet. There were well attended visits to presentations at the Seanscoil at Ceathrú Thaidhg. Dr Michael Kennedy; RIA, and Military Archives; Comdt Daniel Ayotis & Archivist Noelle Gothier.
Comhar Dún Caocháin Teoranta and the LOP 63 project team acknowledge permission for use of numerous texts from Dr Michael Kennedy and thank him for his invaluable contribution to the realization of this website, the LOP 63 restoration, his encouragement, time and visits to Ceathrú Thaidhg, Portacloy and the community.
The reconstruction of Teachaín a’ Watch (Look-Out Post 63) and the telling of its story through the development of a dedicated website and signage would not have been possible were it not for the efforts and support of many people.
These efforts include the involvement of the Irish Air Corps which airlifted the building materials to the LOP site at the tip of the headland at Barr na Rinne. Comhar Dún Caocháin Teoranta is very grateful for their co-operation as well as the support and assistance from various agencies and individuals in this phase of the project including Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Mac Eoin, Commandant Daniel Ayiotis and Noelle Grothier (Archivist) in the Military Archives at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Colonel Stephen Ryan (Defence Forces), Mayo County Council tourism officer Anna Connor, McGuire Contracting Ltd, McCullough Mulvin Architects for their guidance, Engineer Jim Mansfield of Kavanagh Mansfield & Partners, The Cill Chomáin Rural Social Scheme Supervisor Pádraig Ó Dochartaigh and scheme participants Micheál Ó Gearbháin, Philip Ó Gearbháin, Paddy Ó Gionnantaigh, Seamus Ó Máille and Melvyn Ó Taidhg, Seán Ó Dochartaigh (FÁS), Lennon Quarries, Ray Gunning for providing a storage facility, Thomas O’Keefe for transporting and lifting the building materials and his son Tomás for assisting, Terence Conway, John Monaghan, Amelia Stein, Uinsíonn Mac Graith and Mick O’ Dea for recording the event in photographs and video format. A special word of thanks to the Air Corps crew - pilot Declan Daly, co-pilot Frankie Mohan, winch man Luke Maher, ground crew Larry Leniston, Dermot Monahan, Aonghus Ó hAlmháin, Terry Healy, Conor Mc Donnell, Tracey Walsh, Anthony Murtagh, Conor Cartmill, George Howlin, Joe Payne and Paddy McGuirk (former Irish Air Corps crew member).
The second phase of the project involved the development of a website and signage. Comhar Dún Caocháin Teoranta is especially indepted to the following agencies and individuals:- Ealaín na Gaeltachta Teo,Muireann Ní Dhroighneáin (Áisitheoir Ealaíon an Iarthair) and Beartla Ó Flatharta (Áisitheoir Ealaíona Connacht & Condae na Mí), Amelia Stein who carried out extensive and meticulous research and whose unstinting efforts and attention to detail carried the project forward, Dr Michael Kennedy (Executive Editor of Documents on Irish Foreign Policy in the Royal Irish Academy), many documents © National Archives of Ireland and OPW Series, Jim Meaney, Padraig Cunningham (Pure Designs), the artists Mick O’Dea, Pat Harris, Linda Ruttelynck, Noah Rose, Selma Makela and Amelia Stein who created visual representations of the Look Out Post story, Helen Keogh, Tom Mc Andrew and Michael O’ Toole (go ndéana Dia trócaire air) who read and analyzed the log books, photographer Tim Schmelzer, historian Adrian Tinniswood (The University of Buckingham), Benita Stoney, the Trustees of Lord Alanbrooke’s Settlement (for permission to use extracts from the publication War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshall Lord Alanbrooke), The Tony Kearns Archive from Military Archives at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Andy Glenfield, arts officer in Mayo County Council
Ann Marie McGing, Gareth Kennedy, Catriona Crowe (former archivist of the National Archives of Ireland and a member of the Royal Irish Academy), Seán Gallagher (former arts officer Áras Inis Gluaire), James Cavanagh, Martin O’Grady (engineer Mayo County Council), Jonathan Naughton, James Mc Grath (Jimmy), Caitlín Uí Sheighin, Seán and Micheál Garvin, teachers and pupils from Ceathrú Thaidhg National School, GaelCholáiste Chomáin in Ros Dumhach and Naomh Bhreandáin Secondary School in Béal an Mhuirthead for their interest and involvement in the project.
Glacann Comhar Dún Caocháin Teoranta agus grúpa oibre LOP 63 buíochas faoi leith don Dochtúir Micheál Ó Cinnéide as ucht cead a thabhairt a gcuid altanna a úsáid agus an ionchur a bhí aige sa suíomh idirlíne, ath-thógáil Teachaín a’ Watch (LOP 63), a spreagadh, a chuid ama, agus na cuairteanna a thug sé ar Cheathrú Thaidhg, ar Phort a’ Chlóidh agus ar an gceantar i gcoitinne.
Ní bheadh ar ár gcumas Teachaín a’ Watch (Teach Faire 63) a ath-thógáil agus a scéal a chur faoi bhráid an phobail i bhfoirm shuíomh idirlíne sonrach agus comhartaíocht gan chúnamh agus tacaíocht
a fháil ó go leor daoine.
Mar pháirt de seo d’iompar Cór Aeir na hÉireann na hábhair tógála amach chomh fada le suíomh Teachaín a’ Watch ag Barr na Rinne. Ba mhaith le Comhar Dún Caocháin Teoranta buíochas mór a ghlacadh leo agus leis na heagrais agus na daoine seo a leanas as ucht a gcúnamh sa chéim seo den thionscnamh:- Leifteanant-choirnéal Stiofán Mac Eoin, Ceannfort Daniel Ayiotis agus Noelle Grothier (Cartlannaí) sna Cartlanna Míleata i mBeairic Chathail Brugha, Coirnéal Stiofan Ó Riain (Forsaí Cosanta), oifigeach turasóireachta i gComhairle Chondae Mhaigh Eo Anna Connor, Conraitheoirí Mac Guidhir Teo., Ailtirí McCullough Mulvin Architects as a dtreoir, An tInnealtóir Jim Mansfield ón gcomhlucht Kavanagh Mansfield & Partners, Pádraig Ó Dochartaigh, Micheál Ó Gearbháin, Philip Ó Gearbháin, Paddy Ó Gionnantaigh, Seamus Ó Máille agus Melvyn Ó Taidhg (Scéim Shóisialta Tuaithe Chill Chomáin), Seán Ó Dochartaigh (FÁS), Coiléir Uí Lionnáin, Ray Ó Gamhnáin a chuir áit stórála ar fáil, Tomás O’ Caoimh a d’iompar agus a d’árdaigh na hábhair tógála agus a mhac Tomás a chuidigh leis, Turlach Ó Conbhuí, Seán Ó Muineacháin, Amelia Stein, Uinsíonn Mac Graith agus Mick O’ Dea a thóg grianghraif agus a ghlac físeanna den imeacht. Ba mhaith linn buíochas speisialta a ghlacadh le foireann Chór an Aeir - píolóta Deaglán Ó Dálaigh, comh-phíolóta Prionsias Ó Mocháin, fear a’ rópa Luke Ó Meachair, foireann ar an talamh Larry Leniston, Diarmaid Ó Muineacháin, Aonghus Ó hAlmháin, Turlach Ó hÉalaí, Conor Mac Domhnaill, Tracey Breathnach, Antaine Ó Muircheartaigh, Conor Cartmill, George Húilín, Seosamh Ó Paghan agus Pádraig Ó Cuirc (iar-oibrí Cór Aeir na hÉireann).
Ba é an dara chéim den thionscnamh ná suíomh idirlíne agus comharthaíocht a fhorbairt. Tá Comhar Dún Caocháin Teoranta go mór faoi chomaoin ag na heagrais agus na daoine seo a leanas go mórmhór:- Ealaín na Gaeltachta Teo, Muireann Ní Dhroighneáin (Áisitheoir Ealaíon an Iarthair) agus Beartla Ó Flatharta (Áisitheoir Ealaíona Connacht & Condae na Mí), Amelia Stein a rinne mionthaighde leathain ar an ábhar agus a bhrú an tionscnamh ar aghaidh lena cuid iarrachtaí leanúnacha sonracha, An Dochtúir Micheál Ó Cinnéide (Eagarthóir Fheidhmeannach sna Cartlanna Míleata, Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann), doiciméid a bhfuil cóipcheart ag Cartlanna Náisiúnta na hÉireann orthu, Sraith Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí, Seamus Ó Maonaigh, Padraig Ó Connmhacháin (Pure Designs), na healantóirí Mick O’Dea, Pat Harris, Linda Ruttelynck, Noah Rose, Selma Makela agus Amelia Stein a chruthaigh íomhanna físeacha ar scéal an tí faire, Helen Keogh, Tomás Mac Aindriú agus Micheál Ó Tuathail (go ndéana Dia trócaire air) a léigh agus a rinne anailís na log leabhair, an grianghrafadóir Tim Schmelzer, an staraí Adrian Tinniswood (Ollscoil Buckingham), Benita Stoney, Iontaobhaithe Socraíochta an Thiarna Alanbrooke (le caoinchead sleachta ón leabhar War Diaries 1939-1945: Field Marshall Lord Alanbrooke a úsáid), Cartlann Tony Kearns ó na Cartlanna Míleata i mBeairic Chathail Brugha, Andy Glenfield, oifigeach turasóireachta i gComhairle Chondae Mhaigh Eo Ann Marie McGing, Gareth Ó Cinnéide, Catriona Crowe (iar-chartlannaí i gCartlanna Náisiúnta na hÉireann agus ball de Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann), Seán Ó Gallachóir (iar-bhainisteoir ealaíne Áras Inis Gluaire), Seamus Ó Caomhánaigh, Máirtín Ó Grádaigh (innealtóir le Comhairle Chondae Mhaigh Eo), Jonathan Ó Neachtain, Seamus Mac Graith (Jimmy), Caitlín Uí Sheighin, Seán agus Micheál Ó Gearbháin, Scoil Náisiúnta Cheathrú Thaidhg, GaelCholáiste Chomáin i Ros Dumhach agus Meánscoil Naomh Bhreandáin i mBéal an Mhuirthead as a tsuim agus a n-ionchur a bhí acu sa tionscnamh.
