Everyone knows about the Titanic, but what about Ireland’s forgotten shipwreck? We look at some facts you didn’t know about the Lusitania.
Everyone knows the story of the Titanic. Over 100 years after it sank, it informs much of Belfast’s tourism industry, thanks in no small part to James Cameron’s 1997 film about its ill-fated maiden voyage.
Less, though, is known about the Lusitania, whose wreckage lies just off the coast of County Cork. So, we decided to highlight five facts you didn’t know about Ireland’s forgotten shipwreck.
5. One of the world’s fastest ships at the time – a Blue Riband ship
At the time of its launch in June 1906, the Lusitania was one of the world’s fastest ships, with a top speed of 26 knots.
In October 1907, it won the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing, reaching Sandy Hook, New Jersey, from Queensland in four days, 19 hours, and 52 minutes. It would later break its own record three times in the coming years.
For comparison, the Titanic could reach a top speed between 23 and 24 knots, while today’s fastest passenger ship – HSC Francisco – can travel at 58 knots.
4. The world’s largest passenger ship – one of the top facts you didn’t know about Ireland’s forgotten shipwreck
On top of being one of the fastest ships in the world at the time, the Lusitania was also the largest, with a gross register tonnage (GRT) of 31,550. Its sister ship – the Mauretania (31,938 GRT) – stole this title, however, upon its launch in September 1906.
The Titanic was, of course, renowned for its size, and it dwarfed both the Lusitania and the Mauretania with its 46,328 GRT. Today, the Icon of the Seas boasts a whopping 248,633 GRT.
3. Its route connected Liverpool and New York via Ireland – the Irish connection
Both Liverpool and New York City have deep-rooted connections with the island of Ireland thanks to years of Irish emigration and the ensuing diasporas in each of these places. Another Irish link common to both comes through the Lusitania.
On its way from Liverpool to New York, the Lusitania stopped off at Queenstown (now known as Cobh) in County Cork. Just like the Titanic, the Lusitania would take on more passengers in the seaport town.
2. Several warnings were released that foreboded its fate – dangerous times
World War One saw the unbridled advancement of submarine warfare, and Germany announced in 1915 that they would sink any British ship without warning.
On 22 April 1915, the German embassy in the United States published warnings in 50 American newspapers warning passengers of the dangers of sailing on a British ship in the waters around the British Isles.
Despite this warning, the Lusitania set sail just over a week later, on 1 May 1915, carrying 1,960 passengers.
The Lusitania’s captain, William Thomas Turner, was also made aware of other ships that had been sunk in the area in the days leading up to the ship’s fateful end. This is one of the top five facts you didn’t know about Ireland’s forgotten shipwreck.
1. The Lusitania sank on 7 May 1915 – a tragic end
On 7 May 1915, a single torpedo fired by German U-boat U-20 struck the Lusitania 18.5 km (11.5 mi) off the coast of Cork, causing it to sink within 18 minutes.
Though Captain Turner ordered an evacuation of the ship five minutes after impact, 1,197 people died. The speed with which the boat sank made escape almost impossible for those below deck. Only 289 bodies were recovered.
The closest land point to the shipwreck is the Old Head of Kinsale. In 2015, a museum was opened at the Old Head lighthouse to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking. The museum’s collection includes artefacts recovered from the wreckage.
