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Original wheel from Childers' Asgard presented to the National Museum, Collins Barracks
Author: Pat Murphy Posted on: 4/2/11 Print Version
Photos by Pat Murphy


Sean Flood, Paddy Barry, Walter McGuirk, Maura McLoughlin Farrell,
Pat Wallace, Mike Alexander, Geraldine McLoughlin, John Kearon and Neville Maguire
 
Members of Howth Yacht Club were instrumental in organising this historical event when the original wheel from Erskine and Molly Childers Asgard was presented to the National Museum at Collins Barracks.
Howth's famous McLoughlin family very kindly agreed to donate the wheel to the National Museum. They said that the late Gerry, Fisherman and ex Coxswain of the local lifeboat, had indicated that he would like the wheel to be given to the Nation.

At a ceremony on Thursday 3rd February the McLoughlin sisters Geraldine and Maura presented the wheel to Pat Wallace, Director of the National Museum.

Their mother Maura was unfortunately unable to attend, she was missed by all.
Photo: Maura & Geraldine McLoughlin presenting the original
Asgard wheel to Pat Wallace Director of the National Museum.
 

Molly & Erskine Childers on the Asgard in the Baltic in 1910
 
It was on the 26th July 1914 that Erskine, Molly and crew landed guns and ammunition on the East Pier in Howth. A plaque on the wall commemorates the event. The second boat involved in the gun running was Conor O'Briens Kelpie. She was later relieved of her precious cargo to Sir Thomas Myles' Chotah. The Chotah subsequently transferred the guns to the Howth fishing boat the Nugget which was owned by Peter McLoughlin and crewed by Peter's brothers James, Nicholas and William and Michael and Edward Moore. The Nugget landed the guns at Kilcoole in Co. Wicklow.

Asgard is currently undergoing conservation and will hopefully be available for viewing to the public later this year. John Kearon and fellow shipwrights from Arklow were given the task of restoring Asgard back to her original design as drawn by the famous Marine Architect Colin Archer in Norway.

The Howth members responsible for organising the handover of the wheel were Neville Maguire, Sean Flood, Walter McGuirk and Pat Murphy.

For your diary; Tim Magennis has agreed to give his excellent talk on "Erskine Childers and the Asgard" at Howth Yacht Club on Wednesday 30th March at 8pm.


Asgard being inspected by Walter McGuirk and Sean Flood
with John Kearon, shipwright, on the scaffolding

Bow and Stern views



Maura Farrell (nee McLoughlin) Geraldine McLoughlin and Neville Maguire


Seamus Lynam, John Kearon and Sean Flood


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