Muirchãƒæ’ã…¡ Wreck

Field Value
Muirchãƒæ’ã…â¡ Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		52 4.140 N,6 35.109 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 52.069000
  • Longitude: -6.585150
Name MUIRCHÚ
Type cruiser (military)
Date Sunk May 8, 1947
Original Source Brady et. al. 2012, 173-4; Collins 2002; Larn & Larn 2002; National Museum of Ireland.
WRECK MAP LOADING ... 52 4.140 N,6 35.109 W
Muirchãƒæ’ã…¡ on Wreck Map Muirchãƒæ’ã…¡ Wreck on Google Map
Wreck No: W04039, Place of Loss: Saltees, Co. Wexford, 5.1km SW, Source of Coordinate: INFOMAR Wreck Data; GSI Wreck No_272, Description: The SS Muirchú was originally named Helga II when it was built by the Dublin Dockyard Company in 1908 as a fishery protection cruiser for the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. The 323-ton cruiser was propelled by 130 horsepower, triple-expansion engines and was capable of attaining a speed of 9 knots. It measured 47.24m long and 7.46m wide. As World War I progressed and the heavy loss of Allied vessels continued, Helga II was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in March 1915. The “II” was dropped and the newly renamed HMY Helga, which was reclassified as an Armed Auxiliary Patrol Yacht, was fitted with a 12-pounder and a 3-pounder gun. For the duration of the war HMY Helga was based in Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire), Co. Dublin, and was primarily engaged in anti-submarine patrols and escort duties in the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea. During the 1916 Easter Rising, the Helga shelled rebel positions in Dublin city centre, including Boland’s Mills, Liberty Hall and the Dublin Distillery. In February 1918 the Helga attacked a submarine off the Isle of Man, and even though the U-boat escaped back to its base, for the remainder of her career the Helga carried a star on her funnel as a reminder of this achievement. Another notable achievement of the Helga was its involvement in the rescue of 90 people from the RMS Leinster, which had been torpedoed and sunk, with the loss of 501 people, off the Dublin coast in October 1918. In 1919 the Helga resumed its fisheries duties and was transferred to the newly formed Free State government in 1922. With the outbreak of the Civil War (1922–3), the Helga was commandeered by the Free State Army’s Marine Investigation Department for coastal patrol duties. She was used in the transportation of Free State troops along the Munster coastline, and for bringing relief supplies to counties Galway and Sligo. The vessel was also used in the transportation of Republican prisoners from Donegal to Dublin. With hostilities coming to a close, the Helga was transferred to the Irish Free State’s Department of Agriculture in May 1923 and earmarked for fisheries work. In August of the same year the vessel was once again recruited for naval duties, this time with the newly established Coastal and Marine Service, and renamed the Muirchú, after the 7th-century cleric and biographer of St Patrick. This naval service was disbanded by a cash strapped government in March 1924, with the Muirchú returned to the Department of Agriculture to carry on with her task of fishery protection. The outbreak of World War II saw the Muirchú being taken over by a new Marine and Coastwatching Service in December 1939, and refitted for her wartime task of anti-submarine patrols. Later in the war she was also used for mine-clearing duties. In 1947 the Muirchú was the first ship to be commissioned into the newly formed Irish Naval Service. It never saw service, unfortunately, and with the arrival of three Flower class corvettes, purchased from the Royal Navy, the 39-year-old cruiser was decommissioned. The vessel was sold for scrap to the Hammond Lane Foundry in Dublin, but foundered while on tow from Haulbowline to Dublin, 5.1km southwest of the Saltee Islands, in May 1947. There was no loss of life. The wreck of the Muirchú is orientated NW–SE and measures 48.5m in length, 7m in width and 3.6m in maximum height. It lies on its port side and is badly broken up, however one rather curious sight is that of a completely intact bath sitting amongst the wreckage. There is an area of deep scouring at the SE end of the wreck and aft the starboard propeller is missing a blade.

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FAQ

Where is the MUIRCHÚ wreck located?

The MUIRCHÚ wreck is located at coordinates 52 4.140 N,6 35.109 W.

When did the MUIRCHÚ sink?

The MUIRCHÚ sank on May 8, 1947.

What type of wreck is the MUIRCHÚ?

The MUIRCHÚ is classified as a cruiser (military).

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