The L.E. Muirchú

The L.E. MUIRCHU was the first gun ship of the Irish Navy. She was given to the Free State by the British Government in 1921. She was formerly the HELGA which shelled the G.P.O. and the Four Courts from the Liffey in 1916. The MUIRCHU was decommissioned in the late 1940’s and sank under tow in about 200 feet of water South of the Saltees en route from Haulbowline to Hammond Lane’s scrap-yard in 1947.

The stained glass windows are inset into two deck house portholes from the MUIRCHU. An identical deck house porthole with the original glass in place is displayed above the plan of the Lifeboat Station in the parlour. Her steering pedestal and brass steering wheel are beside the upright diver. Place your hand on this steering wheel and experience a real sense of history.

The stone wall containing the MUIRCHU portholes was built from the stone of the old Kilmore Quay Lifeboat House.