Watch: High hopes and big plans for Kinsale Lusitania museum

Last month marked the 110th anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania off the Cork coast, and the 10th anniversary of the opening of a signal tower museum in Kinsale to the public.

The next phase in the story of The Old Head Signal Tower has now begun, with new plans for the museum approved recently.

This signal tower, one of 81 built between 1804 and 1806, is the only one to have been restored to its original appearance and opened to the public, thanks to the dedication and vision of a determined group of local volunteers and committee of The Old Head Signal Tower Heritage CLC.

Originally, the tower was enclosed within four walls, and this original wall lay-out will be the perimeter of the new building.

It is expected that the new museum will be a 641 square metre structure, will be completely underground, and covered by grass.

It took seven years to get the planning approved as the lay-out could not detract from the signal tower, which has to remain the focal point, with nothing distracting from it or blocking the view from it or to it.

The function of these towers was to provide a clear view for many miles over land and sea. Everyone had agreed this point, but when it came to the café, the committee stood their ground!

They wanted the café to be above ground so that customers could enjoy the stunning views this magical location provides.

Eventually, the planners agreed and permission was sought, with the approval being granted in full.

The building, when completed, will hold all of the artefacts recovered from the Lusitania and will have interactive exhibits to encourage learning and a more immersive experience.

Funding will now be sought from various government bodies, including Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Heritage.

The signal tower and Lusitania memorial garden, which is perched on the highest point of the Old Head Peninsula, is under the management of Shannon Forde.

Shannon, who is from Kinsale, tells me about her love for this extraordinary place and the history attached to it.

Originally, she studied law but it was history that she was drawn to. She credits her teachers in Kinsale Community college for inspiring her and encouraging her to follow this career.

Her masters is in Irish history and initially she thought she would work in museums and heritage in Dublin. Covid, however, gave her time to reflect and take stock.

“There’s so much history in the Kinsale area,” she says, “so when the opportunity arose to work here, I jumped at it. That’s three years ago, and I’ve loved every minute.”

Is it the research she loves?

“It’s a combination, I love the research, which I can be doing while here, and it is meeting the public and sharing what I’ve found.

“There were 1,201 souls lost that day when the Lusitania was sunk and others were saved.

“There were ordinary people going about their business who suddenly found themselves involved in this historically important event.

“That’s a lot of stories to tell, whether it’s the descendants of engers or crew, or the stories from locals who helped with the rescue efforts, there is always more to be discovered.”

Shannon gets school tours out here.

“Some of the children are just fascinated by ships and will know all about how it was made and will automatically make comparisons to the Titanic because of the four funnels,” she said.

“We had a re-enactment recently where a group from Kildare, the Lord Edward's Own Reenactment Group, dressed up as the red coats and did their drills. Some of them knew everything about Napoleon and knew chapter and verse about that time in history. It was wonderful.

“It’s amazing how they retain information and will give you a new perspective with their questions.”

Shannon, 27, is dedicated to her role.

“I’m still very young so I’m not sure about what the future holds, but I hope that when the new museum is built and opens, that I will still be involved. “

She is still constantly learning about the Lusitania, adding to her knowledge.

“Last month, during the re-enactment, a gentleman approached us, he was the grandson of a lady who had survived the sinking,” said Shannon.

“Unfortunately, she went on to live a very sad life but he had photos to show us, which were fascinating. It was his first time visiting and meeting other relatives.

“There are always new stories coming to light and descendants coming forward. There is the history attached to the signal tower and the ship and there’s political relevance, wartime significance, and the human stories, and it’s so important to do justice to all of it. “

Some of the stories are harrowing. A lady giving birth in the water when the ship was sinking, and children being separated from their parents. Is it hard to immerse yourself in such sad history?

“It can be,” its Shannon, “but we owe it to all involved to honour their memory.

“Some of the people who survived had their names changed or spelt differently so it can be hard to trace them, but every time you get to meet someone new and show them what we have here in honour of their family member, it is worth all the effort.

In 1904, exactly 100 years after the signal tower was built, construction of the Cunard liner Lusitania began in Glasgow, Scotland.

Two years later, she was complete - the largest ship of her kind - and immediately began to break all speed records with a top speed of 25 knots. She had 10 decks and was 790ft in length.

The Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915, less than 12 miles from the Irish coast, and sank in only 18 minutes, on what was a beautiful sunny day

The signal tower museum is a fascinating place. On the two floors, you can see artefacts from the ship that were brought up by diver Eoin McGarry, photographs of the time, and testimonies from the locals who did all they could to help.

There are also transcripts from the first inquest into the disaster, held in the court house in Kinsale, and letters from Gregg Bemis, an American millionaire who owned the shipwreck, and who died in 2020.

The new building will hold all the artefacts that are currently in storage, and will have an audio centre so visitors can hear the sounds from the ship where she lies.

It will be an immersive and interactive experience that will draw hopefully tourists from far afield.

The success of this venture is due to the hard work and dedication of a group of like-minded volunteers and committee who have brought this building from ruin to tourist destination, and stands as a beacon of how determination and ion can overcome all obstacles.

To stand in the most beautiful of locations, with the garden of remembrance in full bloom, brings home the scale of how harrowing this event was.

We finish with the prophetic words of Lusitania enger Alice Middleton McDougal, recited and put into print by her granddaughter, poet Jackie McDougal Weiner:

So this is war dear people,

Keep from it if you can,

For with it we gain nothing,

Tis just the greed of man.

The museum is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm.

The Old Head Café is operated by Olan Crowley of Bean & Berry, and also open seven days a week, from 10am to 4pm.

The website is oldheadofkinsale.com

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