[acix]

First off, could anyone recommend some reading material on Irish-flagged shipping during the Emergency? I'm aware of Frank Forde's book 'The Long Watch: World War II and the Irish Mercantile Marine'. Are there any others that would be worth a read?

I'm wondering a bit about the range of Irish-flagged vessels during this period. I know of the Lisbon Run and the Trans-Atlantic routes to North America; could Irish-flagged ships be spotted in any other waters during this era (e.g. the Med, West Africa, South America, etc.)?

Another question, how far out did the fishing fleets tend to operate? Were they mostly sticking to territorial waters, or did any range farther afield?

[Markcheese]

Originally Posted by acix

First off, could anyone recommend some reading material on Irish-flagged shipping during the Emergency? I'm aware of Frank Forde's book 'The Long Watch: World War II and the Irish Mercantile Marine'. Are there any others that would be worth a read?

I'm wondering a bit about the range of Irish-flagged vessels during this period. I know of the Lisbon Run and the Trans-Atlantic routes to North America; could Irish-flagged ships be spotted in any other waters during this era (e.g. the Med, West Africa, South America, etc.)?

Another question, how far out did the fishing fleets tend to operate? Were they mostly sticking to territorial waters, or did any range farther afield?

I wouldn't swear to it but I reckon the Irish fishing fleet would have been small boats, sticking largely to coastal waters...

[L1011]

Originally Posted by Markcheese

I wouldn't swear to it but I reckon the Irish fishing fleet would have been small boats, sticking largely to coastal waters...

Relatively small wooden boats went very, very far out in the past, once diesel engines became available

My grandfather - who built commercial fishing boats - isn't around to ask any more but I'll check what my dad knows from what he was told.

[acix]

Originally Posted by Markcheese

I wouldn't swear to it but I reckon the Irish fishing fleet would have been small boats, sticking largely to coastal waters...

Could be, but it would be interesting to know either way...

Originally Posted by L1011

Relatively small wooden boats went very, very far out in the past, once diesel engines became available

Maybe even moreso during this period. Irish vessels of all sorts were pushed to their limits during the Emergency. E.g. a lot of the ships making the Lisbon run were only small coasters, some with a freeboard of only 1 ft!

Originally Posted by L1011

My grandfather - who built commercial fishing boats - isn't around to ask any more but I'll check what my dad knows from what he was told.

Cheers, would be interested to hear anything he might recall.