The Coast Guard Station

The Coast Guard Stations scattered around the coast of Kerry, were set up by the British Navy in 1820s to curtail and if possible end smuggling along the coast of Ireland. Smuggling at the time was causing a major loss of income to the British Government. From 1836 the Coast Guards were given the added task of stamping out illegal distilling for the same reasons, but without much success. Apart from the ship ‘Manpower’ they had 11 cruisers off the coast of Ireland.

Smuggling was very extensive around the Kerry coasts at this time. It was called ‘Free Trade’. Lace, silk, wines, brandies and tobacco were sold at immense profit, making many people rich. Around the coast there were many caves, used for holding tobacco until such time as it would be safe for its sale. It was said at the time that there were no merchants who were not involved in the smuggling to a greater or lesser extent. The sailing ships tried to avoid the rocky west and south west coasts because of the dangers of shipwrecking.

‘Wrecking’, the practice of luring passing ships to destruction on the Kerry coast was not uncommon. A particular treacherous method of gaining booty at the time was to hang a lantern on the mane of a horse or the horns of a cow. From the sea, the bobbing light appeared to be another craft with its light rising and falling with the waves. This often disorientated the ship’s captain, with the ship ending up on the rocks. The challenge for the locals was how to collect their booty and “wreck” while at the same time escaping the watchful eye of the Coast Guards.

The Guards

The Coast Guards were known locally as the “Na Fir Ghorma” – “The Men in Blue”. The guards were mostly naval reservists or approaching the end of naval service, who were trained in the Nelsonian traditions. This training involved the use of firearms, sword play, hand to hand combat and the repelling of a boarding party. Their preparation involved monthly drill. The surnames of some of the guards stationed in Ballinskelligs included, Adams, Harms, Knox, Tomey and McGready. The children of these officers went to Ballinskelligs school.

The Building

The station itself was built beside the sea in the townland of Reen here in Ballinskelligs. It had 5 residential buildings in a terrace, a boathouse, and a house for head officer. A slipway was built nearby for launching their longboat, which was 35feet long and had a beam of 7 feet. Oars and a sail were used to propel this boat.

War of Independence

Many of the Coastguard Stations were burned down by the IRA during the War of Independence from 1918 to 1921. The IRA feared that they would become barracks for British soldiers. The station here in Ballinskelligs was burned down by IRA during this period (on the night a local neighbor was born). Not all of the Coast Guard Stations in South Kerry were burned down however. The stations in Valentia, Kells and Cromane survived.