Remembering the R.M.S. Leinster 1918-2018 – Countdown to Centenary Date!
On behalf of The Mail Boat Leinster Centenary Commemoration Committee, I would like to draw your attention a series of events that will be taking place over the next few days or so as we head towards the actual centenary date of the 10th of October, the date the R.M.S. Leinster sank with the loss of 569 lives.
The attached programme provides a complete overview of the many events happening but there a number that might be of interest to you or you might know someone who would be interested in attending. Please do pass on the details if you can.
This Friday, the 5th October, there is an evening of Sea Shanties and Ballads with The Sick & Indigent Song Club in the Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, West Pier, Dún Laoghaire starting at 9.00 p.m. Doors open at 8.30 p.m.
A Centenary Classical Concert is taking place on Sunday, the 7th of October in Christ Church, Park Road, Dún Laoghaire, at 7.30 p.m. sharp with Rónán Murray, Organist; Niamh Murray, Soprano; Simon Morgan, Baritone; The Brook Singers and The Communications Workers Union Band. One hundred years, ago a similar concert took place to aid those families who lost love ones in the tragedy.
Tickets for both musical events are available from Costello Jeweller’s, No. 1 Northumberland Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, The Hub, Level 2, Dún Laoghaire Shopping Centre, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, or on the door itself on each night!
There are currently several exhibitions with a maritime theme on display in dlr LexIcon, Haigh Terrace, Moran Park, Dún Laoghaire, which cover topics including the First World War; the sinking of the S.S. Hare and S.S. Adela; Irish Lights 1911-1923: Safety at Sea through War and Upheaval; World War I & Ireland’s Humanitarian Effort by St. John’s Ambulance Ireland, The Late Des Branigan (1918-2016), trade unionist, archaeological diver and maritime historian extraordinaire.
Another event taking place is a ‘Family Day @ dlr Lexicon’ with a living history segment to it. The date in question is this Saturday, the 6th October 2018 (10.30 a.m.- 4.30 p.m.), in dlr LexIcon, Haigh Terrace, Moran Park, Dún Laoghaire and which is organised by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council with the support of our Committee. Please see the attached flier for further details. As well as the exhibitions mentioned above there will also be a number of living history re-enactment groups from St. John’s Ambulance, the Irish Great War Society and Lord Edward’s Own in attendance, additional period artefacts including radio communications equipment from the Irish Vintage Radio and Sound Society and a large-scale model in Lego® of the R.M.S. Leinster by James Shields of Brick.ie (Irish Association of Adult Fans of Lego®).
There will be also a performance of a short play written by Hazel Boylan entitled ‘It Happened Here in Dún Laoghaire’. Based on actual events, this Play is set against the background of the sinking of the R.M.S. Leinster. Members of the Loughlinstown Community Drama Group ‘Raging Hormones’ will be performing on the night under the directorship of Anthony O’Reardon. The dates are this Friday, the 5th & Monday, the 8th of October in The Studio, dlr LexIcon, Haigh Terrace, Moran Park, Dún Laoghaire with performances starting at 7.00 p.m. each night.
All the above as well as the many other events taking place over the coming days form part of the R.M.S. Leinster Centenary Commemoration which takes place up to and including an official State Commemoration event taking place on Wednesday, the 10th October 2018 in Dún Laoghaire. All the events have been organised jointly by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, The National Maritime Museum of Ireland and our own Committee.
The National Maritime Museum of Ireland, which is next door to dlr Lexicon, is a treasure trove of Dublin’s and Ireland’s maritime past and currently has an interactive exhibition running on the R.M.S. Leinster with several artefacts from the Ship itself on display. Well worth visiting! Their website is https://www.mariner.ie/ for further details.
Hoping that you will get the opportunity to pay a visit to Dún Laoghaire over the next few days and view the many exhibits on display and participate in some of the events that are taking place.
With kind regards,
David Cotter
Committee Member,
On the behalf of The Mail Boat Leinster Centenary Commemoration Committee.
RMS Leinster Centenary Calendar of Events