Waterford actor Lauren Cardiff gives insight into upcoming 'Seahorse Tragedy' production
Tramore actor Lauren Cardiff
A new presentation in Waterford will be offering a moving reflection about the true story of the sinking of The Sea Horse ship, in Tramore Bay on January 30, 1816.
Waterford’s own Stagemad Theatre Company in collaboration with the Coastguard Cultural Centre are presenting what promises to be a powerful, new dramatic retelling of the disaster.
The Sea Horse was a merchant ship that sank in Tramore Bay during a storm on January 30, 1816, killing all but 30 of 394 people on board.
The ship had been chartered to carry members of the 2nd Battalion of the 59th Regiment, from Ramsgate to Cork. It departed at 11am on January 28, and headed west along the English channel, entering the Irish Sea at 5pm.
The weather had deteriorated during the day, and at 4pm on January 29, The Sea Horse's, John Sullivan, who was the only member of the ship's officers who was familiar with the Irish coast around Cork, fell from the ship and died three hours later from his injuries.
The captain, Gibbs, was unable to locate the Kinsale lights, and by this time the weather had become even worse.
At 6am on, January 30, the ship attempted to reach the sanctuary of Waterford Harbour. The crew prevented the vessel from being driven onto the north arm of Tramore Bay by releasing its three anchors, but the sea was breaking over her from stem to stern, and by noon the anchors were dragging.
The ship ran aground on a shoal, a mile from the shore, in massive seas and started breaking up at 1pm, around which time it met its fate in Waterford's waters.
Appearing in the presentation will be celebrated actors David Marchant, Garret Wyse, Lauren Cardiff and Mark Waters, with live music provided by Aine McCarthy Kent
Speaking on the presentation was Tramore actor Lauren Cardiff, who portrays a fisherman's wife witnessing the disaster.
Lauren was recently nominated for a Waterford News & Star Green Room Award, for her incredible performance in Waterford Musical Society's, 'Evita'.
She said that the upcoming production of the Seahorse Tragedy honours those who were present on that historical day.
"These weren't just names in a history book" she said, before commenting: "They were families, soldiers reunited with wives and children after Waterloo, only to perish together on our shores. We honour the lost and found on that fateful day. The disaster changed Tramore forever, inspiring the town's iconic sea horse monument and leading to improved coastal safety measures. It remains Ireland's second-worst shipwreck after the Titanic.”
The presentation takes place at Tramore's Coastguard Cultural Centre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 25 to 27.
The last remaining tickets are now on sale at gr8events.ie
