Tom Hamilton was born in New Ross, Co Wexford. He joined the Naval Service in April 1963, and was to return to Wexford two months later, for Naval Honour Guard for President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Trained as a Chef, Tom spent many years both ashore and at sea. He was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer in Catering in the 80s and remained as Assistant Catering officer until 2007.
He went on to work in the Naval Dockyard until his retirement in January 2013, having spent nearly 50 years on the Island of Haulbowline.

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Spike Island holds a unique place among the world’s prisons: a welcome necessity for the prison authorities of Ireland, a remote and dangerous posting for its staff, a grand hell for those convicted to serve time behind its walls.

For almost four decades the Victorian prison on Spike Island was home to Ireland’s most serious and notorious criminals. Established in the midst of one of the worst famines in global history, this huge facility became the largest prison in what was then the United Kingdom, dwarfing institutions like Dartmoor, Pentonville, Mountjoy and Kilmainham. High death rates during its formative years meant that many of its malnourished inmates were laid to rest beneath its sod. Yet Spike Island was to become a beacon of penal reform, influencing modern correctional systems in countries as far apart as the USA and Germany.

The story told in this book is one that is, in turn, dramatic, shocking, touching and humorous. The life of the prison was vibrant, peopled by the unfortunate of society alongside those who committed serious, sometimes gruesome, crimes. This is the story of the establishment and evolution of the prison, the often fascinating lives of prisoners and staff and of a time when a renowned Irish fortress of British military power entered the annals of penal infamy.

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The Cobh Pier Head Shooting and the story of the moon car

John Jeffries

On 21st March 1924 a group of men wearing Irish army uniforms pulled up at the main pier in Cobh, Co. Cork. Seated in a yellow Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, they watched around 50 British soldiers disembark from a ferry from Spike Island.

Suddenly the men in the Rolls Royce produced machine guns and fired on the British soldiers. One soldier was killed while eighteen others and six civilians were injured. Driving away at speed, the Rolls Royce stopped briefly to fire on a British warship in the harbour. An hour later armed British soldiers returned to Cobh and more shots were fired. There followed one of the biggest manhunts in modern Irish history, making front-page news throughout the world. The Rolls Royce and its occupants seemed to have vanished into thin air. The car was not seen again for 57 years. In his book Death on the Pier, John Jefferies unravels fact from myth surrounding the Pier Head shooting and the amazing story behind the mysteries Rolls Royce known as the Moon Car.

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About the authors.

Helen Kelly

Born in Rush and granddaughter to Patrick Kelly, Lusk Company, 5th Battalion ‘Fingal Brigade.’ Patrick Kelly mobilised on the Easter Monday under Commandant Tom Ashe. He was part of the reinforcements sent by Connolly to the Mendicity. Helen has had a long-time interest in The Rising.

Eamonn McHale

Born in Dublin and grandson to William O’Dea, who assembled at St. George’s Church on Easter Monday along with his fellow Volunteers of D Company, 1st Battalion, Dublin Brigade. Eamonn has since rising in 2012 developed a great interest and pride in the men of the Mendicity Garrison.

Jimmy Stephenson

Grandson to Patrick J. Stephenson who was Quartermaster to Seán Heuston’s D Company. Dubliner Jimmy has had since childhood, great pride and interest in his grandfather’s part in the Rising.

Jimmy Wren

Born in Dublin and son of James Wren who at the age of 17 served in the GPO during the Rising, Jimmy is an accomplished Irish Historian and Writer.

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A German U-boat lies in wait, still ‘on patrol’ outside Cork harbour. The rediscovery of the UC-42, a mine laying submarine, made the news throughout the world in 2011 after a group of local divers announced the whereabouts of the wreck. After years of searching they found an almost intact U-boat in just 29m of water just outside the harbour.

This is the story of some of the events, which led to its rediscovery. It sheds light on why Cork was under attack by the Imperil German Navy during the First World War. It outlines the connection between submarine designs and a former Christian Brother who taught in ‘the Mon.’ It also gives a glimpse at how the U-boat looks now one hundred years after its sinking.

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Many operational incidents are described and readers will understand what it means to be a member of a team. It also gives an account of the foundation, development and difficulties of the Irish Mountain Rescue Association which represents and supports the teams in their work. This book will be of interest to anyone who has served in mountain rescue as well as those serving in, or interested in emergency services.

The author has been a member of mountain rescue for nearly thirty years and has participated in many rescues and searches as well as serving as chairman of both the national association and his own team and also as the team leader, the operational leader, of his team.

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