This coming week marks the centenary of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania 18km off the coast of County Cork.  A number of coastal towns, communities and parishes in this Diocese were caught up in particular ways with the tragic events of that day, 7th May, 1915. Cobh (then Queenstown) was one such town.  Survivors and victims alike were brought to the port. Local people accommodated the survivors in their own homes, in lodging houses and in hospitals.  More than 100 of the casualties were buried in the town’s old cemetery.

Postcard – RMS Lusitania

Today, the Bishop of Cork, Dr Paul Colton visited the parish of Cobh and Glanmire Union where he spoke about the events of 100 years ago and also confirmed 5 young people from the parish.  The Bishop said:

The sinking of RMS Lusitania was one of the major tragedies of worldwide significance in the twentieth century. As I shall be attending the General Synod of the Church of Ireland later this week I will not be able to attend the local ceremonies marking the centenary, but I’m glad that I will be represented by the Reverend Adrian Moran.  I was pleased to mark the centenary by visiting the union of parishes today.

The celebration of a Service of Confirmation of five young people made it a forward-looking and hopeful visit as we reflected, not only on a past event, but on the contribution individual Christians and Christian communities continue to make in our time.

The Lusitania Peace Memorial in Cobh, County Cork