downpatrick head

Stone markers indicate a neutral country

@JudyEv (342088)

Rockingham, Australia

April 24, 2023 3:12am CST

During World War II, Ireland remained a neutral country. At many places around the coast, stone markers were set in concrete to let aircraft know they had reached Ireland and a neutral zone. Some of these are no longer visible; some have become revealed due to fires in the areas and the remains of some have been spotted by drones or aircraft. One of these markers is on Downpatrick Head in Co. Mayo, Ireland. On the headland, you can see the stones forming ’64 EIRE’. The photo shows the ‘E’. Note the tussocky grass which was very spongy to walk on. In fact, the whole area was spongy.

21 people like this

20 responses

@LadyDuck (472074)

• Switzerland

24 Apr 23

I do not know if Switzerland has those stone markers, it was and it is a neutral country, even if during WWII many seemed to forget and bombed Switzerland.

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@LadyDuck (472074)

• Switzerland

24 Apr 23

@JudyEv I do not know if Switzerland has those marks, I have never seen any here at the border with Italy. I think there are none at the border with Germany, during the Second World War the Allies repeatedly bombed Switzerland by mistake.

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

I think the markers are there more so aircraft would know where they are and would be able to orient themselves after flying across the Atlantlic.

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@epiffanie (11326)

• Australia

24 Apr 23

Is it wet and muddy?.. I'm trying to imagine how it feels to walk on it..

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@epiffanie (11326)

• Australia

25 Apr 23

@JudyEv how interesting!!

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

It wasn't really wet but it would be in winter. It was a bit like walking on artificial grass I guess but softer underfoot.

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@Jenaisle (14078)

• Philippines

24 Apr 23

I didn't know that. But I have read about some Irish men going into the British Air Force to help the Allies before. I still marvel at those true-to-life stories during the second world war, especially those espionage stories of French patriots against the Nazis.

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

I know some Irish joined the fighting but I think Ireland as a nation stayed neutral.

3 people like this

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16788)

• China

24 Apr 23

Those stone markers bear witness to the history then .

3 people like this

@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

From what I read, there are moves to discover and uncover all these markers. Some are overgrown and/or lost.

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@arunima25 (87854)

• Bangalore, India

24 Apr 23

It does give an impression of being spongy. Ireland remained neutral but then there were some Irish who did go ahead to help British armed forces.

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

I know quite a lot of Irish fought in support of the English. Some were simply used as cannon fodder, just as some of the Australian troops were.

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@Beestring (14692)

• Hong Kong

24 Apr 23

It is a good idea to have the stone markers so that aircraft know they had reached Ireland. The grass does look spongy.

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

From what I've been able to find out, they were placed at various places all round the coast.

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@AmbiePam (93883)

• United States

25 Apr 23

It seems almost everyone has to choose a side in this day and age.

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 23

Yes, countries get forced into it.

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@BarBaraPrz (47667)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

24 Apr 23

I'm guessing the sponginess of the land is due to peat?

2 people like this

@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

It could well be. There seems to be peat fields throughout this area.

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@sjvg1976 (41290)

• Delhi, India

25 Apr 23

I didn't know that Ireland remain neutral but I have read that it was in the support of the britishers.

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 23

Many of their residents fought with the British but the country remained neutral. I think that is the story

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@RebeccasFarm (90464)

• Arvada, Colorado

24 Apr 23

Spongy..I know it Judy

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@RebeccasFarm (90464)

• Arvada, Colorado

26 Apr 23

@JudyEv Yes I do o course.

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 23

So you remember this type of surface? It felt very unusual to me.

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@rakski (126043)

• Philippines

24 Apr 23

This is nice information. Thank you

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@rakski (126043)

• Philippines

25 Apr 23

@JudyEv oh yes, it's looks a travel information. A refreshing view from someone you know

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

You're very welcome. I'm glad you're enjoying learning these things.

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@RasmaSandra (80736)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

25 Apr 23

That is very interesting I have never heard about this before,

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 23

I hadn't either. It seemed a bit strange to see those stone letters and numbers in the ground.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317241)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

24 Apr 23

It looks like a pretty area. I'm glad there was a way to tell a country was neutral from the air.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317241)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

26 Apr 23

@JudyEv That's true.

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Apr 23

After flying across the Atlantic, some planes probably didn't know where they were if their navigational equipment was damaged. So if they saw these stones they'd at least know they were over Ireland.

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@LindaOHio (181721)

• United States

30 Apr 23

Fascinating. I had no idea. Cool picture.

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 May 23

I learnt so much on this trip. Nowadays I'm trying to get my photos in order.

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 May 23

@LindaOHio You'd better get busy! lol You'll have more time now that you've caught up here.

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@LindaOHio (181721)

• United States

3 May 23

@JudyEv I was keeping up with photos for a while. One year I spent weeks printing out pix and putting them in albums. I did years and years worth of pictures. Right now I'm only maybe 5 years behind. I need to print more pictures!

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@FourWalls (69008)

• United States

24 Apr 23

That’s some great history! And yes, the ground looks “spongy.”

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

The tussocks were quite strange to me. I hadn't seen anything like them before.

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@wolfgirl569 (108126)

• Marion, Ohio

24 Apr 23

You can easily tell it's an E

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

True. It was hard to get high enough and far enough away to get good photos of the letters.

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@Fleura (30541)

• United Kingdom

24 Apr 23

What does the '64 mean? Apparently the Nazis had a plan to invade Ireland, neutral or not And did you know Hitler had Irish relatives? https://www.theoldie.co.uk/blog/hitlers-irish-connection

Adolf Hitler's secret plan to invade Ireland sells at auction for €1,100 | The Irish Post

www.irishpost.com

A COPY of Adolf Hitler's secret plan to invade Ireland during World War 2 has been sold at auctio...

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

As far as i know, each of these markers around the coast had its own number. '64' was the number given to this spot. I don't know how many there were in total but it seems there are efforts being made to locate and restore the others. I didn't know that about Hitler - or his invasion plans. Thanks for the info.

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@Laurakemunto (12862)

• Kenya

24 Apr 23

That's a great landmark and I love history since it narrates the origin and as to why things are the way we find them. This must be a very enjoyable trip that you are having

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

It is an enjoyable trip thanks. We're into the last week now.

Zul Airan Mujica Frontado

@zulfrontado (199)

• Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela

24 Apr 23

They are historical features. And it was something I didn't know. It's interesting how the past forms part of the present as a reminder of those days.

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

They are trying to find all these markers and restore them.

@DazzleDammah (353)

• Eldoret, Kenya

24 Apr 23

I bet it looks lovely on aerial view.

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@JudyEv (342088)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Apr 23

It would be very interesting to see it all from the air.