RESTORATION of the ÉIRE Sign and the number “63”.

Outlined and marked using quartz stone on the flat ground, not far from the look-out post itself is the no 63, which indicated the number of the look-out post. The ÉIRE sign 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.

Photographs courtesy of Padraig O’Dochartaigh.

ATHCHÓIRIÚ COMHARTHA EIRE AGUS AN UIMHIR 63 

Gar don Teach Faire tá uimhir an stáisiúin ‘EIRE 63’ leagtha amach ar an talamh le clocha bána grianchloiche.  Ba chomhartha tábhachtach aer-loingseoireachta é seo le linn an Dara Cogadh Domhanda chun píolótaí a chur ar a n-aird go raibh siad ag eitilt thar Éire neodrach. Chinntigh méid agus scála na litreacha agus na n-uimhreacha cloiche go raibh siad le feiceáil go soiléar ón aer.  Le himeacht ama áfach d’fhás fraoch agus caonach ar na clocha agus ba doiligh na comharthaí a fheiceáil. 

I 2007 d’eagraigh an pobal áitiúil togra athchóirithe.  Ag obair go díográiseach thar mhíonna an tsamhraidh, thóg oibrithe na Scéime Shóisialta Tuaithe amach chuile chloch, ghlan siad an talamh faoi agus chuir siad na clocha uilig ar ais mar a bhí, chomh soiléar agus a bhí siad an chéad lá.

Grianghraif le coinchead Padraig O’ Dochartaigh.