View from the Green Room: Superb stocking filler for Tramore
The Tramore Coast Guard Station 1874-2024
This short and snappy book carries the tale of the Tramore Coast Guard’s history in Tramore and would be a good stocking-filler for Tramore people dotted around the world.
The station’s checkered history and its role in the emerging new state is well developed with interesting events, such as life saving operations, floating mines and its role as a Naval Reserve base during WW1.
The War of Independence saw the station identified as a symbol of British imperialism and the foiled attack on the station in June 1921 is interestingly told.
Civil War times saw the station occupied by anti-treaty forces for a very brief interlude until the building became the Garda Barracks for the town in 1924.
At the outbreak of the Civil War the station was occupied briefly by the Anti-Treaty IRA before the treaty forces took Waterford and hastened to Tramore.
In July 1924 the station became the Garda Barracks for the town and the Gardaí remained there until their move to Market Street.
Sadly, this beautiful building was allowed to deteriorate and finally burned down on the night of Thursday, October 26, 2000.
Waterford Minister Martin Cullen had already taken an active interest some years previous to the fire in the historical building, and had committed to its restoration and refurbishment. The Coast Guard Station was re-opened in May 2004 by Minister Martin Cullen. What wouldn’t Waterford give to have a minister of Martin Cullen’s calibre and reputation at the cabinet table since he retired from politics?
An invaluable book, studded with interesting anecdotes and stories from Tramore’s Ivan Fitzgerald that’s well worth the ticket at €10.
Finally, could I wish a happy Christmas and an action-packed New Year full of theatrical and artistic delights and surprises to all readers of the column. And a special Christmas prayer for all the artists that have passed away after a lifetime of service to the arts in Waterford.
Many thanks for all your kind comments on ‘A View from the Green Room’.
My congratulations and admiration to all those involved with the Arts and Waterford Theatre, and to all composers, artists and writers who produce new work. Without your work, our world would be diminished and we would inhabit a poorer space. Some things are worth doing because they are worth doing. Artists will always have their own Everest to climb.
I will shortly be reviewing the year in the arts and announcing nominations in anticipation of the Green Room Awards.
