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Dalkey coastguard/Beacon hill
Darren
Hi, I am currently trying to research the former coastguard station in Dalkey co Dublin now known as beacon hill , so far all I know is that It was built in the 1840's, That it was proposed to be used as a sanatorium for victims of consumption in 1909 and then sold to the council around 1910 so if anyone has any information or knows where I could find out more I would be most gratefull

Regards
Darren
 
Tony
Hello Darren,
Here is my file on Dalkey Coastguard station, Co.Dublin.There were 220 stations in Ireland. These newspaper clippings add some life to the old station



DALKEY COASTGUARD STATION 75
Called Monalto bounded by avenue or road Nerano. Five cottages containing each 5 rooms. Houses erected by the Crown in 1863. Sold to Dalkey Urban District for £600 in 1911.
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“The harbour was extremely favourable to the commerce of the town : vessels could lie in safety under the shelter of the neighbouring island, by which they were protected from the North East winds, and from the depth of water they could sail at any hour. There is a Coastguard Station the limit of which extends from Dalkey harbour to Irishtown.”
Reference:“A Topographical Directory of Ireland” by Samuel Lewis. 1837.
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220E Shipwreck 1829.
In 1829 a series of calamitous shipwrecks occurred that have left behind a strong memory. When the brig 'Duke',92 tons, built in Wales 1748, Maryport owned, was wrecked in appalling conditions off Sandycove before dawn, the Bullock (Dalkey) lifeboat was launched by Lt. W. Hutchison, that great figure of the 19th.century Irish lifeboat service. He took with him in the boat 3 Coastguards and 9 volunteers. They rowed 3 miles in the gale and succeeded in saving everybody off the brig, 4 men, a boy, 3 women and 3 children. Hutchison was awarded
the Lifeboat Institution's gold medal.
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90E.SHIP NEWS. WRECK. 1835
On Monday evening strong squalls of wind and sleet, NNE. The galliot , Maria, of Antwerp, Benmager, master, having missed stays near Sandy Cove Point, was compelled to let go an anchor and hoisted a flag. The Coastguard boat with difficulty got on board, and pointed out to the master his danger, should the wind change two points East, or cable cut by foul ground. Their assistance was rejected. In half an hour after the boat had returned to shore, the cable parted the vessel, which was wrecked against the rocks at Bullock. The crew, by the assistance of the Coastguards, fishermen and Harbour Master, were all providentially saved. The galliot was bound from Dublin to Liverpool in ballast - 9 months old.
Reference; Dublin Evening Mail Wednesday 2nd.January 1835.
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L150. Fire at Killiney Hill 1859.
A considerable portion of the southern side of the Obelisk Hill, Killiney, the favourite resort of the citizens, and the admiration of tourists was on Sunday evening destroyed by fire. About 7 o’clock the first symptoms of the conflagration were observed opposite Victoria Castle, the present residence of Henry Roe, Esq. It soon spread with great rapidity, bounding from rock to rock until a large area was compressed within its growing circle., which presented a grand but melancholy spectacle, visible for miles around. Some gentlemen resident in the neighbourhood had hastened to the spot to render assistance, and endeavour some of the working class, who happened to be near to cut down furze, so as to prevent the further progress of the flames. A few of the Coastguards who were also visiting the place interested themselves with a similar object. The cause of the fire is not yet correctly known, but it is believed it originated in the carelessness or love of mischief of some few individuals who, having lighted a cigar, threw a match into the furze, which owing to the recent hot weather, had of course, become very flammable. A considerable number of young trees, recently planted by Mr.Warner, have been destroyed, but the damage, although considerable, is fortunately not as great as was at first apprehended.
Reference; Evening Mail Tuesday 26 July 1859.
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K27. 1862
Coastguard Station at Dalkey.
The Coastguard station which has been in contemplation for months past for this locality and which was alluded to in this Journal is now un fait accompli. The new station was occupied on yesterday by John Luxon ,Commissioned Boatman in Charge and a few men from the Bray station.
Reference; Freeman’s Journal 16th.May 1862.
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L151. Shipwreck at Dalkey. 1874.
The schooner ‘Adoram’, 85 tons, belonging to Aberystwith bound from Faversham to Dublin with a cargo of Roman cement, ran upon the Muglin Rocks, off Dalkey Island, between eleven and twelve o’clock last night, and will in all probability become a total wreck. The officers and crew succeeded in making the shore in safety, assisted by the Coastguards at Dalkey, who rendered good service, and provided their removal to the Sailors Home, Dublin, this morning. The cause of the catastrophe is attributed to the existence of a thick atmosphere and the absence of a light on these dangerous rocks, where so many casualties to shipping have occurred during the last few years.
Reference; The Irish Times Thursday 19 May 1874.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Wreck in Killiney Bay. 1899.
During the early hours of Monday morning a large vessel of 1;818 tons burden was driven ashore on that most unapproachable coast-line which surrounds Killiney Bay. About three o’clock on that morning Mr.Grogan, assistant stationmaster at Ballybrack heard the cries of human beings in distress. When he caught sight of the ship, and saw the danger in which the crew were placed, he immediately telephoned to the coastguards ay Kingstown and Bray. About seven o’clock a tug-boat from Kingstown bore down upon the wreck but dare not approach her, as by so doing the tug would be placed in as dire a plight as the ship. Shortly after the coastguards arrived, with all the pride, pomp, and circumstances of life-saving apparatus, but with all their paraphernalia they were unable to throw a line aboard the ship. What are coastguards for ? Are they kept for use or ornament. Anyone looking at their futile efforts on Monday morning would certainly say the latter. Three of the crew of the ill-fated ship, disgusted, no doubt, at the vain attempts of the coastguards, launched a boat and put off for the shore, but the restless surf soon swamped the boat and threw its occupants into the angry waves, which fairly danced with delight at their expected victims., but fate otherwise willed it.. Mr. John O’Masterson of Killiney, and others came to their assistance and were not long in getting the exhausted sailors ashore. Shortly after 9 o’clock the lifeboat from Kingstown took off the remainder of the crew. The vessel is the ‘Lough Fergus’, of Liverpool, and was bound to Brisbane. She had a crew of 18, with two stowaways. The ship was commanded by Capt.Williams.
Reference; Wicklow Star 11th.February 1899. (Extract)
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K297. 1899.
South Dublin Gossip.
No Dalkey Man Need Apply.
Is it a fact that the Dalkey Amusement Committee, having advertised for a caretaker for Sorrento Grounds, are keeping the job open until a certain coastguard shall have been relieved from that branch of the service on pension ? We understand that several men from the town have applied for the position, but none of them have been selected. We fail to see how a retired sailor is the most fitting person for this job. As there is a clause in the lease preventing fishing or shooting game on the grounds, the committee evidently think the old coastguard would be the most likely man to put a stop to such practice, though we believe the man who would go fishing or fowling on Sorrento Hill would display one of those prominent traits of character that would go a long way to qualify the possessor for a lunatic asylum. There are no birds there, at least none to speak of. In fact there is neither fish nor fowl nor- oh yes there is flesh there in abundance, but we are not aware that flesh is one of the forbidden articles in the lease, and though there may be some couples there. The only shooting that is done is the flash shot-forth from the eye of youth and beauty. Where then does the superannuated man-of-war man come in as being more useful than the other men looking for the job? This puzzle is too much for us. We give it up.
Reference: Wicklow Star 29 April 1899.
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P280. Serious Accident at Dalkey. 1902.
A boy named John M’Cann, of 10 Sorrento rd. Dalkey, aged 11 years, was found on Thursday evening on the railway track between Khyber Pass and Dalkey Tunnel by a Coastguard named James Dowling. The boy appears to have fallen down the embankment a distance of 40 feet, and was found by the Coastguard suffering from serious injuries to the head and one knee. The Coastguard took him to Sir Francis Brady’s place from where he was conveyed by Constables Love and Kiernan to St.Michael’s Hospital, Kingstown. At the hospital the house surgeon stated that M’Cann was suffering from fracture of the chin and an injury to the right knee, but the patients condition was so serious that he could give no further opinion of his injuries till some hours later. The poor little fellow is stated to have suffered from defective hearing and shortness of sight.
Reference; The Irish Times 30 August 1902.
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K35. Barque Wrecked at Sandycove. Crew of 23 Saved. 1915.
The three masted barque ‘Inverisk’ of Aberdeen. 1,296 tons. was driven ashore at Sandycove, where she struck on the Ring Rock, near the Boy’s Bathing place, the crew were in great danger. It was impossible to launch the life-boat. The Coastguards under the charge of Mr.Brewer and Commander Herbert arrived with the life-line and succeeded in effecting communication with the ship, and after a very exciting period they rescued the crew about half past eleven in an exhausted state.
Reference; Wicklow News-Letter 20th.November 1915.
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Regards
Tony Daly


 
Darren
Thank you so much Tony , there is some great info for me to be getting on with.

Regards
Darren
 
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