Dún Laoghaire honours victims of RMS Leinster sinking
A solemn memorial was unveiled at Dún Laoghaire Harbour to commemorate those lost in the 1918 sinking of the RMS Leinster. This poignant tribute lists the names of 570 victims from multiple nations, acknowledging a profound maritime tragedy in Irish Sea history.
•
⏱️ 2 min read
On the 108th anniversary of the RMS Leinster disaster, a touching memorial was revealed at Dún Laoghaire Harbour by An Cathaoirleach, Cllr Barry Saul, alongside Richard Cruise, Honorary Chairperson of the RMS Leinster Memorial Committee. The monument, placed at the site of the ship’s anchor, bears the names of all 570 people who perished in what remains the deadliest loss of life in the Irish Sea.
The RMS Leinster was tragically torpedoed shortly after departing from Dún Laoghaire—then known as Kingstown—en route to Holyhead during the closing weeks of the First World War. Those who lost their lives hailed from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, the Channel Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States, and Lithuania. Survivors carried the scars of this harrowing event for the rest of their lives.
Supported by the Civic Memorials Committee of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the RMS Leinster Memorial Committee, RMSLeinster.com, and the Maritime Institute of Ireland, the project also received funding from the Heritage Council of Ireland and the Department of Culture, Community and Sport. Cllr Barry Saul reflected on the significance of the memorial, emphasising the collective effort to preserve the memory of this tragedy through various commemorations, films, books, and digital archives. Frank Curran, Chief Executive of the Council, highlighted the importance of such memorials in Dún Laoghaire’s public spaces to honour those lost at sea and keep their stories alive for future generations.
The RMS Leinster was tragically torpedoed shortly after departing from Dún Laoghaire—then known as Kingstown—en route to Holyhead during the closing weeks of the First World War. Those who lost their lives hailed from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, the Channel Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States, and Lithuania. Survivors carried the scars of this harrowing event for the rest of their lives.
Supported by the Civic Memorials Committee of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the RMS Leinster Memorial Committee, RMSLeinster.com, and the Maritime Institute of Ireland, the project also received funding from the Heritage Council of Ireland and the Department of Culture, Community and Sport. Cllr Barry Saul reflected on the significance of the memorial, emphasising the collective effort to preserve the memory of this tragedy through various commemorations, films, books, and digital archives. Frank Curran, Chief Executive of the Council, highlighted the importance of such memorials in Dún Laoghaire’s public spaces to honour those lost at sea and keep their stories alive for future generations.
0 views