By Bernard Scarlett

The return of peace and the upheaval of the latest re-organization had hardly been absorbed when the Coastguard in Ireland found themselves once again in the firing line, facing the bombs and bullets of 'the troubles'.

The Coastguard Stations were the targets of the rebels by whom they were regarded as symbols of imperialist Britain. Although some coastguards were killed and injured, in most attacks on their Stations the rebels treated the men and their families with courtesy, and allowed them to remove their personal effects before setting fire to the buildings.

The attacks had already started when the Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches was asked by the Admiralty for it's views on the reorganization of the Coastguard Service in Ireland. Admiral Tupper replied that the state of unrest rendered it difficult to suggest what stations were or were not required.

'At present it seems quite useless to have any War Signal Stations or War Watching Stations that cannot be readily accessible from seaward for victualling and manning purposes', he reported. 'Owing to interrupted land communications such stations are easily rendered quite useless for the purpose for which they exist by ill-disposed persons cutting the land wires, and it would appear that if our system of complete coastwise communication is to be preserved in Ireland all such stations should be connected to a fortified port by underground or submarine cable.

'At present the majority of Coastguard Stations are only able to carry out in a minor degree their duties because of the uncertainty of communication, and the general hostility displayed by the inhabitants, which confines the ratings to the vicinity of their stations.

'About thirty Coastguard Stations are garrisoned by Marines; about fourteen have been destroyed; the fate of the remaining one hundred stations is uncertain until some definite policy is adopted to prevent the rebels from making further attacks'.

By October 1920 the Admiral was opposed to greatly reducing the number of Coastguard Stations in Ireland or abolishing the Coastguard Force.
He claimed that the presence of coastguardsmen on the coast, in addition to their usefulness for patrolling, customs duties and saving life, had a considerable influence on the population. He thought that pensioner coastguards were eminently more fitted for the work of a Customs force than civilians with no sea experience.

In a signal to the Admiralty he declared, 'It is from my point of view essential to have officers and men in the coast watching service, principal ports and signal stations who understand the Navy and have been accustomed to work with it. And who also are in close touch with and understand the natives.

'Although the number of Coastguard Stations attacked since the present rebellion began has been considerable, the general feeling of the coastline population is not hostile to the Coastguard. In a few localities this statement must be modified, but it is believed that the attacks on the Stations generally speaking have been organized and ordered by the Central Committee of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and carried out by men the majority of whom have come from a distance and who have coerced a few of the local men into joining them in these raids.

"When the present rebellion has subsided, I submit that it would be a sound policy to increase the Coastguard Force in Ireland, establishing in the south-west, west and north-west of the country men, and their families, who have had more experience of civilized life than obtains in those localities normally. This would have the effect of civilizing the neighbourhood'.

The Irish Coastguard records on the attacks against their stations gives a dramatic insight into the trials and tribulations of the service at that time.