Introduction

An estimated 12,000 ships have been lost around the Irish coast in recorded history. Many of these met their end off the coast of Donegal with a large number foundering on, or within sight of, Arranmore. This page will attempt to document the stories of the vessels and those that served on them.

Shipping Lanes

The primary pre-war shipping lanes were those from Glasgow, Liverpool and Derry to the New World of the United States and Canada. Indeed, many of Arranmore's sons and daughters would have passed Arranmore for the last time en-route to their new lives abroad. The wartime transatlantic shipping lanes between the US and Britain saw increased shipping along the North West coast due to its air-cover from aircraft based in Northern Ireland and which also allowed ships to avoid hostile aircraft based in occupied France. As a result, the U-boat wolfpacks based themselves off the Donegal coast to intercept allied shipping and inflicted heavy losses early in the war.

Wooden boats & iron men

The boats of Arranmore's fishing fleet were small comprised mostly of 24 foot rowing/sailing yawls which were excellent sea-boats but were open to the elements and had no lights, radar or modern navigation aids. The most tragic incident occurred on the night of the 9th November 1935 when a boat carrying returning migrant workers struck a rock and capsized with the loss of 19 lives. This event became known as the Arranmore Disaster. There were numerous other tragedies around Arranmore where islanders lost their lives while making a living as fishermen.

Artifacts

Wreckage from ships lost on or around Arranmore was seen as a windfall for islanders who frequently searched the shore for items that were washed up. Occasionally, along with the timber which was used to roof island houses, would come a ships lifeboat which would be converted for use as a fishing boat by the lucky finder. Other more unusual cargoes rescued from shipwrecks included a Jersey Bull, cotton, maize and grain.

Database

Work is currently underway to compile a database listing all losses on or around Árainn Mhór. If you have details on any shipwrecks please send them to shipwrecks@arainnmhor.com. The resulting database will be available on this web site.