The Guillemot is being dismantled as we speak. I have heard a lot of comments about what a disgrace this is but it seems that the people who care about this do not have the money or the wherewithal to do anything to save it. I tried to find some information on line but there is little available. I found the following on the Commissioners for Irish Lights website.

Built 1921/23 by Cran & Somerville, Leith; length 102 feet, breadth 24 feet, depth 12½ feet; construction all steel; five watertight bulkheads; steel mast and fixed lantern; mizzen mast carrying day mark; masts for wireless; cost £17,700; sold in 1968 to Wexford Maritime Museum Committee. Towed by ILT Atlanta to Rosslare. Taken in tow over Wexford Harbour Bar. Moored alongside quay at Wexford. Subsequently moved to Kilmore Quay and set in concrete.

This is the only photograph I can find in my collection, to date anyway, showing the Guillemot moored on Wexford Quays. It is scanned from a colour negative.



This is the ship moored in concrete at Kilmore Quay. I am led to believe that she was bedded in concrete following a storm in January 1990 which did severe damage to the harbour and caused the ship to break from her moorings.



Vandalism is cited as one of the reasons why maintaining the ship at Wexford Quays proved untenable. It seems the local authorities were not in a position to undertake it's upkeep.



According to press reports Wexford County Council had to take action on the grounds of health and safety.



So now the ship is being cut up for scrap. According to a local I spoke to earlier this week the steel is quite valuable. "Pre nuclear" were the words he used. I looked it up and it does exist.




So that's it. No going back now.

well done john its sad to see her go i dont think kilmore will be same without her.

paul

Good work John, there are lots of projects, like this, so well worth capturing for posterity. Mike

Many thanks to Mike and Paul for your kind comments and to John for his reply and additional photographs.

John.