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Diving Information:  

• The ship lies 300 metres due East of the harbour and is on its side, badly broken up.
• It is suspected that some of the wreck lies elsewhere.
• Easy launching from Ballycastle slip, but may be subject to breakers in heavy swell conditions.
• Transit marks must be lined up accurately, & drag anchor in approx. position.
• Dive first hour of ebb tide.
• There is a fee to use the slip at Ballycastle Harbour.

Historical Information:

• The six year old coaster belonged to Henry Lane & Co. of Londonderry.
• She measured 145 x 24 x 8ft., and grossed 386 tons.
• Bound Ellesmere Port for Derry, with a cargo of Orrell coal for her owners Messrs. Lane.
• The cargo shifted while off Fair Head and she pulled into Murlough Bay after suffering heavy weather damage.
• During the gale she snapped her cables and an attempt was made to get her to Ballycastle.
• Just 600 metres east of Ballycastle harbour a swell set her on her beam end and she sank with the loss of two engineers.
• The following year the barque "Fecamp" sank over the wreck. When the barque was raised the "Templemore" came with it and both were towed into the shallow water that she now lies in.
• Portholes recovered, bear the makers name - "J. Roby, Rainhill Wharf, Liverpool".
• The ship’s bell has never been found.

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:

Randal Armstrong	-	Castlereagh SAC (1983)
Vic Foster	-	Castlereagh SAC (1996)

Last update - 28-Mar-2003

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