Castletownbere
Martin Mylotte
August 15, 2023
HM 241. "The most scenic harbour on the planet!"
That is how Martin Mylotte, HM of Castletownbere described his harbour to me in an email, and he was not exaggerating. As Fiona and I sailed into this incredibly well protected natural harbour we knew it would be memorable. It is no surprise that it was chosen as one of the six government fishing harbours as well as a base for the Royal Navy during WW1, and beyond, on nearby Bere Island.
Martin is an interesting man and before we got onto his working life he recommended various books on Irish history I should read. Castletown was one of the last parts of Gaelic Ireland to be defeated by Elizabeth 1st after the Battle of Kinsale in 1602 and the subsequent Flight of the Earls in 1607. The area certainly felt "ancient".
Martin's father was a seafarer and Martin followed him to sea in 1997, with a varied career including being Master of Dive Support Vessels and an unusual Tender Support Vessel "Safe Scandinavia" - a floating hotel built for harsh conditions! During Covid he decided he wanted to come ashore and first became HM at Rossaveal before moving to Castletownbere.
As he says he never tires of the view from his office, but my guess is the job is not as easy as he makes out as the harbour has a high number of Spanish fishing boats landing here. The Spanish are very efficient, with self contained lorries shuttling fish to Spain and returning full of goods. It is one of the few harbours where the fishing boats have to moor up "stern to" due to lack of space, a practice which no doubt keeps the HM busy.
The area also has some famous shipwrecks, none so bizarre as the Kowloon Bridge which in 1986 broke from its anchor in Bantry Bay, and was abandoned by its crew who left the 54,000 t iron ore carrier in reverse gear heading out into the Atlantic. With broken steering and no one on board it was eventually driven east down the coast and went aground on nearby Stag Rocks. As we left the harbour we saw the remains of a 1982 wreck, the Bardini Reefer with its masts still protruding above the water. All very sobering.
As Martin said, as HM you see just about everything, and in his case it was a boat crossing his harbour being rowed by a broomstick! In his final email to me he typed "Slán go fóill agus go n-éirí an bother agaibh" which translates "Goodbye for now and have a good time". I think Martin has a very good time being HM and I wish him well. Do visit this very authentic part of Ireland if you ever have the chance, I know Martin would give you a good welcome!
*The town has several different names. Castletown Berehaven or Castletownbearhaven. One record shows the Castletownbere area got its name from the powerful Irish family - the O'Sullivan Bere Clan. Like many places in Ireland - it has just got lots of names!
That is how Martin Mylotte, HM of Castletownbere described his harbour to me in an email, and he was not exaggerating. As Fiona and I sailed into this incredibly well protected natural harbour we knew it would be memorable. It is no surprise that it was chosen as one of the six government fishing harbours as well as a base for the Royal Navy during WW1, and beyond, on nearby Bere Island.
Martin is an interesting man and before we got onto his working life he recommended various books on Irish history I should read. Castletown was one of the last parts of Gaelic Ireland to be defeated by Elizabeth 1st after the Battle of Kinsale in 1602 and the subsequent Flight of the Earls in 1607. The area certainly felt "ancient".
Martin's father was a seafarer and Martin followed him to sea in 1997, with a varied career including being Master of Dive Support Vessels and an unusual Tender Support Vessel "Safe Scandinavia" - a floating hotel built for harsh conditions! During Covid he decided he wanted to come ashore and first became HM at Rossaveal before moving to Castletownbere.
As he says he never tires of the view from his office, but my guess is the job is not as easy as he makes out as the harbour has a high number of Spanish fishing boats landing here. The Spanish are very efficient, with self contained lorries shuttling fish to Spain and returning full of goods. It is one of the few harbours where the fishing boats have to moor up "stern to" due to lack of space, a practice which no doubt keeps the HM busy.
The area also has some famous shipwrecks, none so bizarre as the Kowloon Bridge which in 1986 broke from its anchor in Bantry Bay, and was abandoned by its crew who left the 54,000 t iron ore carrier in reverse gear heading out into the Atlantic. With broken steering and no one on board it was eventually driven east down the coast and went aground on nearby Stag Rocks. As we left the harbour we saw the remains of a 1982 wreck, the Bardini Reefer with its masts still protruding above the water. All very sobering.
As Martin said, as HM you see just about everything, and in his case it was a boat crossing his harbour being rowed by a broomstick! In his final email to me he typed "Slán go fóill agus go n-éirí an bother agaibh" which translates "Goodbye for now and have a good time". I think Martin has a very good time being HM and I wish him well. Do visit this very authentic part of Ireland if you ever have the chance, I know Martin would give you a good welcome!
*The town has several different names. Castletown Berehaven or Castletownbearhaven. One record shows the Castletownbere area got its name from the powerful Irish family - the O'Sullivan Bere Clan. Like many places in Ireland - it has just got lots of names!