Sinking of barge on Lough Derg

The sinking of a barge near Castlelough on Lough Derg in December 1946 that resulted in the drowning of three crew members will be commemorated in ceremonies in Garrykennedy and at Castlelough on Sunday week, December 12.

A group of locals and other interested parties have come together to mark what will be the 75th anniversary of the tragedy when the barge, the M45, sank during a storm off Castlelough on December 1 1946.

The four member crew were transporting a consignment of Guinness to Killaloe when they hit rough water at Parker's Point, after earlier departing from a stop off at Garrykennedy. Only one of the crew survived the tragedy as the timbers of the barge burst open and the vessel sunk at a point considered the most dangerous section on the River Shannon.

To mark the occasion two barges will depart from Whitegate in County Clare to Garrykennedy on Sunday week where one of the crew members, Gerry Bourke, will deliver a commemorative speech in memory of the three men who died.

This event will be held in Garrykennedy at 10am and all are invited to attend.

The two barges will then depart from Garrykennedy to the scene of the tragedy in Castlelough where a wreath will be laid at the spot where the ill-fated barge sank.

The M45 was resurfaced from the bed of the lake 29 years after the tragedy and was subsequently restored. It is currently in Athlone where it is undergoing maintenance work.

A feature will be published in next week's issue of The Guardian containing the original news report by this newspaper of the sinking 75 years ago. The sinking also featured the day after the tragedy on the front page of the Irish Press. Inquests into the tragedy were held in Portroe.