Part of L.V.Albatross finally comes home to Malahide

The Light Ship Albatross has a very long history dating back to 1925 when it was constructed in Leith Scotland. Back then all types of ship building was carried on the Firth of Forth in Scotland. The Commissioners of Irish Lights commissioned the building of  L.V.Albatross for going on station off Arklow on the Codling / Arklow bank.

She spent 44 years on station till  decommissioned by Irish Lights. In 1969 two scout leaders from Malahide Sea Scout group Patrick Henderson and Robert Molony presented an idea to the Scout Commissioners Conference in  January 1970 in Gormanstown Co.Dublin to establish a National Water Training Centre at Malahide.

On acquiring the ship immediate plans had to put in place to get her established on suitable moorings . It was planned after Irish Lights finished work on board that it would be towed to Dublin Port – were Hammond Lane Company will carry out necessary alterations. Then towed to Malahide Estuary were a rendezvous is made with a trawler ( or two) who will bring it to the moorings.

Great plans were lay-ed out .

• Organise team for painting and fitting out
• Approval by “pressure areas” in locality of Lightship i.e. Malahide Sailing Club,Boatyard,Golf Club,local Resident’s Association
• Obtain place for storing canoes on Broadmeadows
• Check and list all safety factors
• Establish Rules of Management.
• Elect a board of Officers for administration.
• Get as many as possible of the  canoes built, so that training courses may start immediately when vessel is ready?
• Obtain a report by sewage engineer on the question of sewage disposal.
• Obtain a tender ,also engine and moorings for same.
• Obtain a source of supply of fuel for diesel generator.

On the shore a notice board be erected on Malahide sea front – beside the sea wall giving details of training centre , together with a good colour photograph.

The enthusiasm and plans continued with a list as long as your arm from mooring chain to generators , pottery ,fire extinguishers etc ,etc.  The list grew and notes were written against items that they would expect to get donated. Pottery from Arklow Pottery, generator from G.E.C. Dunleer. However further down the list in true scouting spirit  was written  “Scrounge as much as possible”

By the time she was ready to be towed to its new station Malahide fell short of been suitable and L.S.Albatross went on station beside the West Pier  Dunlaoghaire. She became the Scout Association of Ireland  National Water Training Centre and gave great joy and trained  hundreds of Sea Scouts from all over Ireland and abroad.  By 1995 she had to be moved and spent several years in the Grand Canal basin in Dublin Port but never regained her importance due to financial constraints . After a brief time spent in Scotsman Bay , Dunlaoghaire for Dorothy Cross’s Ghost Ship in 1999 she was sold to James Tyrell and moved to Arklow in 2000.

Her bell that would have greeted hundreds of scouts when coming aboard has now come home to Malahide and is resting on the main deck .

L.V.Albatross
Built 1924/25 by H. Robb Ltd, Leith Scotland at a cost of £15,650

Lenght 102 feet

Breadth 24 feet

Depth 13¼ feet

Construction ; iron shell and floors, steel framing; five watertight bulkheads; steel mast and fixed lantern; mizzen mast carrying day mark.

 

Her predecessor also named Albatross was built 1874/75 by Fletcher & Farnall, Milwall, London; length 91 feet, breadth 21 feet, depth 10 feet; constructed of wood; cost £5,650; Run down and sunk on Kish by RMS Leinster 8th September 1902. Salvaged, docked and sold to S. Jack of Glasgow in 1903.