LOGBOOK COVERS, LOP63.

The logbooks from Portacloy, LOP63, District 13, North Mayo are a record of the weather conditions, general observations and the events as seen in the Air and on the Sea from LOP63 during WW2. They are held in Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin. The daily events from all 83 posts, in addition to local Garda information, were then collated into the G2 Daily Record Summary which attempted to paint an accurate picture of all of the activity off the coast of Neutral Ireland, each day during the Emergency.

The initial records were brief, “took over watch-handed over watch”, but as time progressed the Coastwatchers became more skilled at note taking and describing with accuracy the events. It is interesting to note that while Portacloy is in a Gaeltacht area (Irish Speaking) and Irish would have been the native and everyday language of the Coastwatchers, the note taking was in English.

The men went on training courses and were able to identify the various aircraft by type, accurately recording direction, height, speed and sound. With shipping they kept records of the type of vessel, tonnage and direction. They became familiar with the pattern of shipping movements at sea. Armed with these new observational skills, the Coastwatchers were able to spot and record incidences and events that were of particular interest and significance.

The logbooks also contain small personal details of their time serving as Coastwatchers.

Tugann na log-leabhair ó Phort a’Chlóidh, Teachaín a’Watch 63, Ceantar 13, Maigh Eo Thuaidh, tuairisc ar na coinníollacha aimsire, imeachtaí ginearálta agus eachtraí mar a chonachas iad san Aer agus ar an bhFarraige ón teach faire seo i rith an Dara Chogadh Domhanda. Tá na log-leabhair stóráilte sa gCartlann Mhíleata, Dún Chathail Bhrugha, Baile Átha Cliath. Bailíodh le chéile na tuairiscí laethúla ó na 83 teach faire, maraon le h-eolas áitiúil na nGárdaí Síochána, i dTuairisc Achoimre Laethúil G2, a rinne iarracht léargas cruinn a thabhairt ar na himeachtaí uilig a tharla chuile lá ar feadh chósta neodrach na hÉireann sa nGéarchéim.

Bhí na céad tuairiscí giortach “took over watch - handed over watch”, ach le himeacht ama d’éirigh na Fir Faire níos oilte ag glacadh nótaí agus ag déanamh cur síos cruinn ar imeachtaí. Is díol spéise é go raibh na nótaí scríofa i mBéarla cé gur ceantar Gaeltachta é Port a’Chlóidh agus gurb í an Ghaeilge gnáth-theanga dhúchais laethúil na bhFear Faire iad féin.

Bhí traenáil sonrach faighte ag na fir faire agus bhí ar a gcumas na heitleáin éagsúla a aithint agus tuairisc cruinn a dhéanamh maidir lena dtreo, a n-airde agus a luas. Maidir le cúrsaí longa choinnigh siad tuairiscí ar an gcineál soitheach a bhí ann, a tonnáiste agus a treo. Bhí siad ar an eolas ar phatrún na ngluaiseachtaí longa ar an bhfarraige. Agus na scileanna nua breathnóireachta seo acu, bhí na Fir Faire inann eachtraí agus imeachtaí spéisiúla agus tabhachtach a thuairisciú.

Tá sonraí beaga pearsanta sna log-leabhair chomh maith a bhaineann leis an am a chaith na Fir Faire sa bpost.

Courtesy Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin. Photos © Amelia Stein.

Le caoinchead ó gCartlann Mhíleata, Dún Chathail Bhrugha, Baile Átha Cliath . Grianghraif © Amelia Stein.