Loop Head 2nd World War Look Out Post

Between 1939 and 1945 the construction of 83 Lookout Posts took place at strategic points ( every 5 to 15 miles ) along the Irish Coastline. The Loop Head Look Out Post was number 46. The Irish Army negotiated with the Royal Navy on the best way of monitoring the Irish coast to prevent surprise attacks. The Irish Army intended to open coastguard stations similar to the ones which operated up to 1922 but the Royal Navy (which was the world’s leading expert in coastal defence at that time) suggested that more modern technology should be used, a telephone In fact, one of the earliest phones in Ireland was installed at Loop Head so that messages could be relayed to coastal headquarters in Dublin on a daily basis.

Coast Watch Service.

The agreement was for a static Coast Watch service in specially built concrete pillar box type structures and crucially fitted with telephones so that immediate notification could be given of any thing untoward in the vicinity. With the outbreak of the Second World War (euphemistically called ‘the emergency’) there were 83 of them built around the coast of Ireland each within line of sight of the one either side. They were designed by the OPW and custom built in a factory and then distributed by the Irish Army to the designated sites all over the country. They were manned by newly recruited men with local knowledge and also familiar with the patch of coast to where they were stationed. These local coast guards were accepted as army personnel and subject to the same conditions and discipline.

Location.

The Loop Head Look Out Post was built near Loop Head Lighthouse which already had a telephone. As each post had to have line of sight to the post either side of it so in effect the whole coast was visible to the watchers. There was a telephone in each post and if anything unusual such as a ship or aeroplane passing the watcher on duty phoned his area HQ which if deemed important enough was passed on to army headquarters in Dublin. There are log books from every lookout post in the military archives in Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin. They are free to access on the Military Archives website. You can find your nearest Look Out Post on the website and download a sample logbook to read.When the war was over the men were discharged and the posts were abandone the war was over the men were discharged and the posts were abandoned.