Irish Wrecks On-Line - Diamond SS (No. 260)

*Vessel Type:*	Steam Coaster	*Location:*	Co. Antrim
*Date of Loss:*	13th April 1918	*Place:*	Rathlin Island
*Cause of Loss:*	Collision	*Boat Dive from:*	Ballycastle
*Charted Depth:*	35m	*Irish O.S. Map:*	Discovery Series No. 5
*Height of Wreck:*	3m	*Admiralty Chart No:*	2798
*Hull Material:*	Steel	*Latitude:*	55.19.35 North
*Type of Seabed:*	Mud	*Longitude:*	06.15 West
*Average Visibility:*	5 - 8m	*Diving Experience:*	Very Experienced

No image listed.

Diving Information:

Lies 1 mile West-North-West of Altacarry Lighthouse, in the main run of the tide.

Although she has been plotted on an echo sounder, she has not been dived on to date.

Dive at Slack Water.

Historical Information:

Owned by W. Robertson, and built in 1886 by Scott & Co., Bowling, and grossed 468 tons and measured 175 x 25.1 x 10.3ft.
While under wartime blackout, she was heading for Londonderry with a cargo of steel plates, when she collided with the passenger ship "Lily" which was bound for Glasgow.
The "Diamond" sank almost immediately.
Ten crew were picked up by the "Lily".
One of the three crew that were lost was Patrick O'Dornan. It was his 25th birthday and he was last seen going below to collect his suit when the collision happened.

Source Publications:

"Shipwreck Index of Ireland"

by
Richard & Bridget Larn

Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Ltd 2002 - ISBN: 1900839970

"Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast 932 - 1997"

by
Edward J. Bourke

Edward J. Bourke 1998 - ISBN: 0952302713

"Shipwrecks of the Ulster Coast"

by
Ian Wilson

Impact Printing 1997 - ISBN: 0948154993

"The Harsh Winds of Rathlin"

by
Tommy Cecil

Impact Printing 1990 - ISBN: 0948154659

Other Sources

Patricia O'Dornan, neice of crew member Patrick O'Dornan
by Email July 2004

Last update - 19-Jul-2004