Militaria Archive
National Maritime Museum of Ireland, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin
A collection of photographs taken at the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, Old Mariners Church, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin. Included are some pictures of the KV Merlogue exhibition, the Baily Optic, the Neutral Ireland maritime oil paintings (by Kenneth King) and some of the Irish Naval History displays. This museum re-opened in June 2012 after a 6 year refurbishment.
The greatest sea tragedy in Irish history unfolded in 1918 when 12 miles from Dún Laoghaire Harbour the RMS Leinster was sank by U-boat U-132 leading to 501 deaths out of the 685 passengers and crew. The ship was transporting Irishmen in the British Army back to the battlefields of WWI. The anchor of the RMS Leinster forms a public memorial a short distance from the museum.
