Maritime Institute of Ireland

The Maritime Institute of Ireland (MII) was founded in 1941, at a time when World War 2 was raging and many seamen were in great peril of either being severely injured or losing their lives. Ireland, being an island nation, was dependent on the sea for all forms of movement external to the island as well as for many goods, particularly fuels that were required to keep the economy going. There was therefore a resurgence of interest in all things to do with the sea.

1941, as can be seen, was a critical time in Irish history.

The Maritime Institute of Ireland (MII) was founded in 1941, at a time when World War 2 was raging and many seamen were in great peril of either being severely injured or losing their lives. Ireland, being an island nation, was dependent on the sea for all forms of movement external to the island as well as for many goods, particularly fuels that were required to keep the economy going. There was therefore a resurgence of interest in all things to do with the sea.

Role

1941, as can be seen, was a critical time in Irish history. Some of the Institute founders, including the longest serving President, Colonel Anthony Lawlor with other supporters, who had been impressing on the government and public, over more than a five year period, that another European war was inevitable and Ireland with a dependence on maritime links would quickly fall into crisis.

The Institute ran a series of activities supporting their objectives given above with public lectures on maritime themes, public film shows on similarly related subjects and managing their positive inputs to the public press and popular media of the day as well as the specialised maritime press.

A programme of Maritime Weeks, with poster displays, lectures, film-nights, public library displays of maritime material were organised and deputations to the government were arranged. From these initial activities and the ongoing interest generated, the National Maritime Museum of Ireland

National Maritime Museum of Ireland

The National Maritime Museum of Ireland opened in 1978 in the former Old Mariners' Church in Haigh Terrace, near the centre of Dún Laoghaire town, southeast of Dublin city.The church was built in 1837 for seafarers and remained open until 1971...

, operating both a library and museum, was formed.

Achievements

1943-45 First and Second Maritime Weeks held in Dublin

1945 Irish Maritime Survey launched, later taken over by Irish Shipping and organised as Follow the Fleet in 1967.

1949 Schools "Ship Adoption Scheme" launched

1952 Annual Seafarers Memorial Services inaugurated in Dublin

1955 Winter Film Show and later public lectures commenced in Dublin

1956 Institutes Research Department opened under John de Courcy Ireland. Today networked with 40 other countries

1958 Submission to Government and public meeting on need for maritime Search and Rescue helicopters. Air Corps helicopters were introduced, 1963 after sinking of M/V Halronel

1959 First Maritime Museum opened at St.Michael's Wharf, Dun Laoghaire

1967 Mariner's Church was acquired from the Church of Ireland to use as the National Maritime Museum support for Institute Plan to build Seamen's Memorial for those lost in Irish ships during the 1939-45 War.

1969 Report to Government on coastal shipping resulted in establishment of Short Sea Shipping Association, now the Irish Chamber of Shipping.

1974 Mariner's Church was acquired from the Church of Ireland to use as the National Maritime Museum

1976 Report to Government on need for new patrol vessels for Irish Naval Service.

1977 Joint group established with Marine Officers, Seafarers and Docker's Unions to erect a National Seamen's Memorial

1978 National Maritime Museum of Ireland opened by Dr. Patrick Hillery

Patrick Hillery

Patrick John "Paddy" Hillery was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and the sixth President of Ireland from 1976 until 1990. First elected at the 1951 general election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Clare, he remained in Dáil Éireann until 1973...

, President of Ireland. Cork branch established

1979 European Museum of the Year Awarded to the National Maritime Museum.

1980 First Edition of Register -Ships of Ireland published.

1984 First State Historic Wreck Preservation on the Queen Victoria, sunk off Howth.

Second Edition of Register - Ships of Ireland published.

1989 Death of Institute founder, Col. Tony Lawlor.

1990 Dr. Patrick Hillery

Patrick Hillery

Patrick John "Paddy" Hillery was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and the sixth President of Ireland from 1976 until 1990. First elected at the 1951 general election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Clare, he remained in Dáil Éireann until 1973...

, President of Ireland

President of Ireland

The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...

, unveils the Irish National Seamen's Memorial at City Quay, Dublin.

1991 First Institute Council members in the UK and USA.

Dundalk Branch established.

1994 President Mary Robinson opens the 50th Anniversary Exhibition of the Kerlogue Rescue. 168 German seamen were rescued in the Bay of Biscay. Survivors attended.

1995 Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council agrees adoption of Irish Navy Flagship LE Eithne on Institute initiative.

1996 Gulbenkian Award for Best Volunteer Museum was presented by President Mary Robinson to the National Maritime Museum of Ireland.

Donations

In 1950 the Institute was gifted a magnificent collection consisting of ship models, (some unique), charts, uniforms, maritime pictures and books all of which were donated under the terms of the will of the two daughters of one of the 19th century’s great Irish seamen, Captain Robert Halpin

Robert Halpin

Robert Charles Halpin, Master Mariner, born Robert Charles Halpin, Master Mariner, born Robert Charles Halpin, Master Mariner, born (February 16, 1836 at the Bridge Tavern Wicklow, Ireland – January 20, 1894 and died at Tinakilly, Wicklow. He captained the Brunel-designed leviathan SS Great Eastern...

 of Wicklow. Captain Halpin

Halpin

Halpin is a common surname and may refer to:*Anita Halpin , British politician*Hal Halpin, American computer game executive & entrepreneur*Jim Halpin , English baseball player*Luke Halpin , American actor...

 had made history by laying the first successful oceanic cables in the North and South Atlantic and Indian Oceans as well as the Mediterranean Sea. The ship used for this work was Brunel designed Great Eastern

SS Great Eastern

The SS Great Eastern was an iron sailing steam ship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. She was by far the largest ship ever built at the time of her 1858 launch, and had the capacity to carry 4,000 passengers around the world without refueling...

, which for nearly half a century was the world’s largest steamship. A model of this, made under Halpin’s supervision, is one of the famous items in the Institute’s "Halpin collection".

Foundation of an Irish Maritime Fleet

The Irish Marine Service played an important role in setting up the first Irish fisheries protection fleet. Seamus Ó Muiris, a former officer in the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of HM Armed Forces . From the beginning of the 18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early...

, had made persistent representations to successive Irish governments, favouring the creation of a fleet and was appointed as its Commander, when approved. In this, he had been strongly supported by Colonel Anthony Lawlor, the wartime Commander of the Marine Coast Watching Service. The first vessel purchased by the government was the HMY Helga, which was renamed after independence.