Coastguard Station
The Coastguard Station building dominates the landscape located as it is alongside the pebble beach of Cromane and has a history stretching back to 1866.
The Coastguard Service was initiated as far back as 1822 and by 1837 there were fifteen in Co. Kerry. They were situated in the three districts: Tralee, which had five, Valentia four and Dingle six.
The Cromane Coastguard station was built to replace the Dunquin Station at the westerly tip of the Dingle Peninsula, which was closed due to its poor landing facilities. Work in Cromane was begun in 1866 and completed in 1868.
The building consisted of six houses being the living quarters for one chief boatman, five men and their families. Each terraced house had three bedrooms upstairs and a sitting room, kitchen and scullery downstairs.
The watchtower and watch-house in the same range containing 2 rooms. The boat-house close to the beach and detached from the main buildings.
It was normal for the station to have only windows at the front of the station facing out to sea. The entrance and out-buildings were at the rear. It is possible that front doors were added at a later date.
The stations were erected by local labour to plans approved by the British Admiralty and prepared by the O.P.W. (Office of Public Works.) Some of the stations had inter-connecting doors between the upstairs bedrooms. These doors were normally kept locked and keys kept by the Station Officer.
In the event of an assault on the station, by opening these doors the coastguards could operate from room to room as necessary. There could also be a separate boathouse and Rocket Cart House. A chimney was provided for a fire to dry waterlogged equipment.
At the Southern end of the building stands the day room and lookout tower, which had a height of twenty-six feet to the gutters. Beside the tower stood a forty-foot copper flag staff upon which the Union Jack was hoisted every day. The coastguard themselves wore denim overalls of blue, with pillbox caps and were known as the 'Blue Men'
Killorglin - Fatal Accident.
"On the evening of Friday last, as a boat from the Lanne was returning laden with sea-weed, from Inch Bar, and just as she turned to Point of Cromane a sudden squall came upon her and she sank, when, melancholy to relate the crew consisting of 4 men met a watery grave. A female who accompanied them was fortunate to grasp 2 of the oars of the boat, and thus succeeded in remaining afloat until the Coastguards of the Cromane Station were able to approach and rescue her". - Reference; Daily Express Tuesday 29th.June 1852.
(NB. It is to be presumed that the above "Lanne" is actually a reference to the Laune River, which flows into Castlemaine Harbour at Ballykissane.)
Reference: "Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast" Vol.1 by Edward J.Bourke
VERONICA
"The 350 ton brig VERONICA went ashore at Inch Bar on 6-12-1828. A woman was lost but the coastguard rescued the remaining crew and passengers."
(NB. Although originally credited to the Cromane crew, it is subsequently believed that, in fact, the Coastguard crew carrying out this particular rescue was from Minard Point.
Reference: Jim Condon
Florence Graham of Liverpool
It has also been suggested that the Cromane Coastguard crew may have assisted in the rescue of two men from the "Florence Graham" barque, which was wrecked on Inch Strand in 1861, as reported thus:
"24 January 1861:Mr.Hugh Cooper, Chief Boatman in charge of the Dingle Bay Coastguard Station who with three others saved two men from the barque ' Florence Graham' of Liverpool which during a strong gale of wind, was wrecked on Inch Strand, Dingle Bay on 24th.January 1861. "
Extracted from "Lifeboat Gallantry" edited by Barry Cox. Additional notes: Jim Condon.
Mr. Hugh Cooper, Chief Boatman of the Dingle Bay Coastguard Station, mentioned in the above dispatch, was, in fact, from Cromane!
The work of the Coastguard Service was to control smuggling activities and the intentional wrecking of shipping for plundering. Also to assist ships and boats in distress.
In Cromane however, its main duty was the upholding of the fishery laws in Castlemaine Harbour, which had, until recently, waters rich in salmon and sea trout. The harbour was a bustling one with Ballykissane Pier at the mouth of the River Laune much in use for exports.
To the North of the Station at the beach is the Boathouse wherein was housed the twin whaler cutter used by the Coastguards in the course of duty. As can be seen, a ramp, which was used to launch the cutter, has now been cut off from the sea due to the movement of the bank of gravel and sandbanks.
With the advent of the new state in 1922 the Coastguard Stations were decommissioned. A British warship anchored outside the harbour and a tender was dispatched to remove the dismantled copper Flagstaff, and firearms and records from the tower. The building was then turned over to the fledgling state and put under the control of the Office of Public Works.
A local Schoolteacher named John Sugrue purchased the building and in the later years it became the inn, "Jack Sugrues", under which name it is still known today. The coastguard station cottages offer self-catering accommodation and have access to an all weather tennis court.
