Maritime Museum Themes

Irish Naval Service

The creation of a naval patrol and protection service was one of the first tasks of the government of the newly independent Irish state.

The Coastal and Marine Service was formed under the command of Major General Joseph Vize, an ex- Third Engineer with Clan Line, of Glasgow, on 04 May 1923.

It was made up mostly of ex- Admiralty Armed Trawlers and Patrol Boats but lasted for just over a year.

Between then and WW2 the service was allowed to dwindle to 2 active fishery patrol vessels.

In January 1939, a Coast Watching Service was established to monitor Irish coastal waters and a series of motor torpedo boats was ordered. This wartime fleet consisted of 6 MTB’s, 2 fishery patrol vessels and a few obsolete auxiliaries.

The official name, “Irish Naval Service”, was adopted when the government confirmed the wartime service to be a permanent component of the Defence Forces, on 15 March 1946.

We highly recommend booking in advance to ensure your spot, as ticket holders will be given priority access.

Family and group rates available. School groups especially welcome!

More Maritime Museum Themes

The Drontheim Boat

Focuses on the traditional Drontheim, a prevalent fishing boat along Ireland's North Coast, vital for local fisheries.

Merchant Navies and Inishowen Sea Captains

Celebrating Inishowen's seafaring heritage, highlighting local captains who commanded global maritime ventures.

Malin Head Radio Station

Established in 1902, this station played a crucial role in maritime communications, including contact with the RMS Titanic.

Shipwrecks

Highlights the perilous waters off Inishowen that have claimed numerous ships, documented through museum exhibits.

La Trinidad Valencera

Tells the story of a 16th-century Spanish Armada ship wrecked off Inishowen, with artifacts displayed in the museum.

Inishowen Maritime Memorial

A tribute at the museum's entrance honoring locals lost at sea, symbolized by an armillary sphere used as a sundial.

Visitor Reviews

Our visitors testimonials shine a light on the wonders, memories and moments that await you at Inishowen Maritime Museum & Planetarium

Aaron Mooney

A brilliant attraction with something for everyone. A fascinating insight into the history of Greencastle, as well as Inishowen more widely. The VR experiences were wonderfully engaging and heightened the experience. For such a small fee, the Museum is more than worth it!

Olena Anoricheva

The museum is excellent! It is really really worth it, especially for teenagers and adults. I didn’t expect the museum to be so great! Very educational. Everybody who’s interested in ships, lighthouses, radio technology and ship wreckage findings should visit it. There’s even a virtual reality simulator to play as a Lieutenant of a ship.

Fionn D

A brilliant museum with many unique and interesting artefacts. Being able to see all the items up close and being able to touch and operate some of the receivers and radios. The VR experience was also brilliant ! The collection of various items, from war medals, and pieces of shipwrecks and crashed bombers was very […]

Raymond Mackey

Brilliant local museum, housed in historic coastguard buildings. The museum has a wide range of displays, ranging from the recent history of local lighthouses right back to the ruins of ships from the Spanish Armada. There are many links drawn with the local areas history and connection to the sea and fishing. Well worth a […]

Esther Upritchard

Excellent experience, beautifully set in an amazing building . To be honest, we didn’t even know it was there (Googled for places to see in the area ). The weather made it all the more enjoyable . Lovely staff friendly and helpful, we will return to see the planetarium which we missed out on.

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