Few sights on Inis Oírr (Inisheer) are as striking as An Plassy shipwreck, resting quietly on the limestone shore. Many visitors discover it while cycling around the island, its rusted hull a dramatic reminder of courage, weather and island life.
The Story of the Plassy
The MV Plassy began her life as a trawler before being converted to a cargo vessel in 1947. In 1951 she joined the Limerick Steamship Company fleet, carrying goods along the west coast of Ireland.
On the 8th of March 1960, while sailing through the sound between Inis Oírr and County Clare, the Plassy was caught in a fierce Atlantic storm. Pushed off course, she struck Finnis Rock just off the island’s east coast.
A Heroic Rescue
A young island boy spotted the ship in distress and raised the alarm. The Inis Oírr Rocket Crew responded quickly, rescuing all aboard using a breeches buoy. This is a a rope-and-pulley rescue system fired from the shore. Their bravery is still spoken of with pride on the island.
The photographs of the rescue you’ll see today in Tigh Ned are themselves a small miracle. There were no cameras on Inis Oírr at the time. By pure luck, an American anthropologist named John Messenger happened to be staying on the island. He captured the dramatic events on film and later wrote about his island experience in his book Inis Beag, offering a fascinating glimpse into island life in those years.
A full account of the rescue can also be read in the Online Journal of Research on Irish Maritime History which records the courage and quick thinking of the islanders.
The Wreck Today
Subsequent storms later washed the Plassy off the rock and onto the shore, where she still rests today. Rusted and steadfast, she has become part of the island’s landscape and is one of the most photographed sights on Inis Oírr.
Fans of Father Ted will recognise the shipwreck from the show’s opening credits, where it makes a brief but familiar appearance.
Take a moment to cycle out along the coast, breathe the salt air and imagine the night of the rescue. It’s one of those island stories that stays with you. If you’d like to visit the wreck for yourself, we’d be happy to help you plan your route — find out more bike hire on Inis Oírr