More names to go on
Greencastle maritime memorial
GREENCASTLE'S memorial to people from Inishowen who
lost their lives at sea is to be expanded to include
names that were inadvertently omitted and people who
sadly died since the monument was erected.
The Inishowen Maritime Museum in association with
Greencastle Development Committee has just launched
an appeal to collect the names of men and women from
the peninsula who died at sea both at home and
abroad.
The circular monument including name-plaques and a
sundial centrepiece stands majestically at
Greencastle Harbour opposite the museum.
It was unveiled in 1997 by the then President of
Ireland Mary Robinson.
Committee chairperson Seamus Bovaird said the main
challenge for the updating project is getting
accurate information including all the names and
dates.
"At an initial glance, we reckon there could be at
least 20 new names to be added to the memorial
plaques but we literally do not know exactly how
many would be eligible for inclusion. It shouldn't
be difficult to get the names of the more recently
deceased but the tragedies from further back will
obviously take a lot more time," he said. He said
the project would receive invaluable help from the
Inishowen Friends of Messine group who would assist
in tracking the names and dates of men and women
from the peninsula who died all over the world in
World War One. At least 226 people from Inishowen
are believed to have died in the Great War. |
Museum manager Gemma
Havlin said the information trawl would stretch as
back as far as it had to. "The World War One records
are fairly well researched and the more recent names
should be easy enough to find but if someone comes
forward and says 'my great great grandfather died at
sea in 1880', we will be delighted to include them,"
she said.
The co-ordinators are realistic |
 |
about the logistic and financial challenge
that lies ahead and are in the process of seeking
funding towards the project.
They have appealed for sea victims' relatives at
home and abroad to come forward with names and dates
and will be examining the historical and maritime
archives over the autumn and winter. It is hoped the
additional names will be gathered for inclusion on
new plaques by Summer 2009. |
