An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 9 BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD PHOTOS BY CPL LEE COYLE "Few citizens appreciate that Ireland lays claim to a juris- diction, which is almost three times the size of Germany. An area where the sovereignty and sovereign rights trans- lates into the property rights of our citizens. Our land/sea interface offers one of the most spectacular and beautiful coastlines in the world." - Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM, in a foreword to Sailing by ed. Markus Connaughton, 2014, quoted in the National Maritime Museum. T he National Maritime Museum is housed in a mag- nificent, 19th century, Church of Ireland, mariner's church that was built in 1836 in Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire). The church closed in 1972, opening as the Maritime Museum two years later. Previously, the museum had been housed in the former British Sailors Society Reading Rooms on St Michael's Wharf from 1959, until that building had to make way for the present day ferry passenger terminal. The museum claims the building, which is one of only a few custom-built places of worship for seafarers intact in the world today, is its greatest artefact. After visitors have taken in the building and moved on to the exhibitions, there is many a story awaiting them. Our experienced guide was Philip Lecane, a volunteer who works in the museum's library section, which has nearly 4,000 volumes in its unique collection. Philip met us with his guide's greeting: "We will bring you on a voyage of discovery, enthralling you with stories of heroism, war, and disasters at sea. You will learn about maritime history, exploration, navigation, radio, deep-sea cable technology, nature and wildlife, and view art inspired by the sea." At the first exhibit Philip related the story of the Finnish ship Palme, which got into trouble in 1895. Civil Service 7, a rowed lifeboat with 15 seamen, was sent to help. Tragi- cally, it capsized and all its crew were lost. Another exhibition deals with the sinking in World War I of RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Leinster, one of four vessels (along with RMS Ulster, RMS Munster and RMS Connaught) operated by the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company to deliver mail and carry passen- gers. On 10th October 1918, RMS Leinster was torpedoed by a u-boat off the Irish coast as she sailed for Holyhead. There is a large model of the ship on display in the museum, along with memorabilia from cabin boy Tom Connolly and mail worker John Higgins. Philip told us that with over 540 souls lost, this was the biggest loss of life in the Irish Sea, or aboard an Irish-owned ship. The centenary of the sinking will be marked by commemorative events in Dun Laoghaire, with the museum hosting many of them. There is an exhibit on HMY (His Majesty's Yacht) Helga. Built as a fishery protection vessel in 1908, the Helga was used to bombard Dublin during the 1916 Rising, and later took part in the rescue of survivors from RMS Leinster. It was purchased by the Irish Free State's Coastal and Ma- rine Service in 1923 and renamed Muirchú. The museum is entirely run by volunteers, supported by people on a community employment scheme. Every Tuesday, librarian Brian Ellis, Joe Varley and Philip run the museum's library and research service, helping people and groups researching relatives or undertaking mari- time history projects. We met one such researcher, Andy Arnold, who travelled from Australia to trace his relative, Peter Mills, who sailed with Capt Bligh in the 1700s. There is no shortage of things to see and do in the mu- seum, with many exhibits to view, and activity areas for younger historians. The Maritime Museum opens from 11am-5pm Mon/Sun. Admission is €6 (€3 for children under 12), with discounts for families and groups. See www.mariner.ie The National Maritime Museum

• Cover