The SS Irish Pine was sank by a German U-boat in 1942, despite being marked as a neutral ship, with the loss of 33 seamen. Image: National Maritime Museum of IrelandThe names of 134 Irish merchant navy and fishing fleet seamen have been added to the official roll of those who died in the second World War. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWCG), which records all British and Commonwealth deaths in the first and second World Wars, have officially recognised the men’s deaths as war fatalities. Though Ireland was officially neutral in the second World War, Irish merchant ships and fishing vessels were frequently targeted by German warships and submarines or by British mines. The SS Kyleclare was sunk by another German U-boat on February 21st, 1943.

Source: The Irish Times March 29, 2026 09:51 UTC