Former smuggling ship MV Shingles successfully sunk in Mayo bay

There was huge interest this afternoon in the event unfolding in Killala Bay. The live-streams on the web saw some serious traffic as people were watching the former smuggling ship slowly sinking. At 16:10 the MS Shingles was completely immersed into the waters off Killala.

Mayo Minister for State Dara Calleary (Fianna Fail) TD has hailed the sinking of the former smuggling ship, the MV Shingle, off the coast in Killala Bay, as a remarkable achievement and momentous day for North Mayo and West Sligo.

Calleary said: “This project proves what can be achieved when state bodies and public representatives work collaboratively – Revenue, the Department of Justice, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Community and Rural Development who have provided ORIS Funding and both local authorities have played a role in bringing the project to fruition and it is fantastic to see good resulting from something that began it’s story in Ireland as something so wrong! The MV Shingle has the potential now to bring prosperity to our locality and I know that the project has enjoyed widespread approval among tourism and hospitality operators in North Mayo and West Sligo – the exposure from the sinking of the vessel alone is publicity that you just cannot buy. I am really excited about the potential of the project and congratulate all involved in making it a reality.