1942 Cork Harbour Tragedy Seventieth Commemoration

The 70th. commemoration ceremony for what is referred to as the ‘ Irish Poplar ’ tragedy, in which five local men were drowned in Cork Harbour  on the night of December 12th. 1942, will take place in Cobh on Saturday next December 8th.2012.

On that very dark and stormy night the M.V. Irish Poplar entered Cork Harbour heading for Cork Dockyard. Under Emergency and Neutrality regulations it was required that her manifest be examined. For this purpose a Marine Service launch, carrying Marine Service personnel and the Cork Harbour Commissioners launch carrying the Harbour Pilot came alongside the Irish Poplar and succeeded in putting the Pilot and Marine Officer on board, but as the launches pulled away from the ship it appears they collided with each other and four members of the Marine Service—forerunner of our present day Naval Service—Frank Powell, William Duggan, Patrick Wilshaw and Frank Llyod together with John Higgins of the Cork Harbour Commissioners’ pilot launch, lost their lives.

Saturday’s commemoration ceremony will commence with concelebrated mass in St. Coleman’s Cathedral at 10.00 am followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at 11.15 am approximately, at the ‘ Cork Harbour Tragedy ’ memorial outside the Old Town Hall on East Beach. Later relatives of the deceased will be transported by boat for the purpose of casting wreaths or flowers into the sea in the area of the ‘ Dog Nose ’ buoy where the tragedy took place.

Domhnall Mac Cárthaigh FS ( PRO,Southern Area Council of ONE)