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Minister Gormley Launches "Shipwreck Inventory of Ireland Louth, Meath, Dublin & Wicklow"

10/02/09

The Minister for the Environment,  Heritage and Local Government,  Mr. John Gormley, T.D., today (9 February 2009) launched the "Shipwreck Inventory of Ireland,  Louth,  Meath, Dublin and Wicklow” published by the National Monuments Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government at a function at  the Jeanie Johnston on  Custom House Quay, Dublin. 

There are an estimated 15,000 wrecks in Irish territorial waters. This inventory documents over 3,000 vessels, off counties Louth, Meath, Dublin and Wicklow.  It is aimed at a general readership, including archaeologists, maritime historians, divers, anglers, developers, planners and all interested or involved in the management of the marine environment.

"The study of shipwrecks and maritime activity is necessary to develop a full understanding and appreciation of our past”, the Minister said, adding that “the compilation of an inventory of shipwrecks in our coastal waters is also an essential prerequisite to developing a structure for the effective management and protection of an important cultural resource".

Acknowledging the level of scholarship involved, the Minister said that he is also keenly aware of the human dimension of the many maritime tragedies documented in the inventory. “Most of us will have heard of well documented sinkings such as the RMS Leinster which was torpedoed near the Kish Light  in 1918 with the loss of 501 lives”, the Minister said “but many other wrecks scattered around our coast carry with them in turn sad tales of personal loss and tragedy which we must not lose sight of as we study these pages.”

Describing the book as “a very readable, engaging and meticulously researched and presented volume,” the Minister said that  he hoped that it will prove to be an essential reference book for all those interested in maritime affairs for many years to come, and will help raise awareness of Ireland’s broader cultural heritage. He congratulated the author Karl Brady for his hard work, scholarship and commitment in bringing the book to publication. 

Copies of the book can be purchased from any good book store or on line at www.wordwellbooks.com

Seolann Gormley
"Shipwreck Inventory of Ireland Louth, Meath, Dublin & Wicklow"


Seolann an tAire Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil, an tUasal John Gormley, T.D., an "Shipwreck Inventory of Ireland,  Louth,  Meath, Dublin and Wicklow,” fardal long bháite atá curtha i gcló ag Seirbhís na Séadchomharthaí Náisiúnta de chuid an Roinn Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil ag ócáíd ar bord an Jeanie Johnston ag Cé Theach an Chustaim, Baile Átha Cliath inniu (9 Feabhra 2009).

Meastar go bhfuil 15,000 longa báite in uiscí teorann na hÉireann.  Cuireann an fardal seo síos ar bhreis agus 3,000 árthach, lámh le contaethe Lú, na Mí, Átha Cliath agus Chill Mhanntáín. Tá sé dírithe ar lucht léiteoireachta ginearálta, seandálaithe san áireamh, ar stairithe mhuirí ar thomadóirí, ar iascairí, ar fhorbróirí, ar phleanálaithe agus ar gach éinne a bhfuil baint acu le bainistíocht an chomhshaoil mhuirí.

“Tá gá le scoláíreacht na long bháite agus na gníómhaíochta muirí d’fhonn tuiscint agus léírthuiscint ár gcúlra a fhorbairt”, a dúírt an tAire. Chuir sé leis ag rá gur “riachtanas é cur le céile fardal long bháíte inár n-uiscí cósta le structúr a fhorbairt do bhainistíocht éifeachtach agus do chosaint acmhainne thabhachtach chultúrtha”.

Agus aitheantas á thabhairt aige don oiread scoláíreachta a bhí i gceist insan taighde, dúirt an tAire go raibh géar thuiscint aige ar thoise daona na dtragóidí ar a gcuirtear síos insan fardal.  “Chuala an chuid is mó dinn faoi bhá long ar nós an RMS Leinster a pléascadh le torpedo in aice Tigh Solais Kish i 1918 nuair a cailleadh 501 duine” a dúirt an tAire “ach to an-chuid long bháíte scaipithe thart faoinár gcósta lena mbaineann scéalta truamhéileacha maidir le cailliúintí pearsanta agus tragóíd nach ceart dearmad a dhéamanh orthu agus na leathanaigh seo á léamh again.”

Agus é ag cur síos air, thug sé leabhar “so-léite, tarraingteach, doimhin agus galánta” air. Dúírt an tAire go bhfuil súil aige go ndeimineófar é ina leabhar tagartha riachtanach do gach éinne a bhfuil suim acu i gcúrsaí mara sna blianta romhainn amach, agus go gcabhróidh sé le tuiscint leathan chultúrtha ár n-oidhreachta .  Dhein sé comhgháírdeas leis an údar Karl Brady as son a chuid saothair dian, a chuid scoláíreachta agus a dhíógras maidir leis an leabhar a chur i gcrích.

Tá cóipeanna den leabhar le ceannach in aon siopa leabhar maith, nó online ag
www.wordwellbooks.com


ENDS
 


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