Unknown Submarine Sinks Irish Trawler, Clogherhead, Co. Louth, 1982

The Trawler 'Sharelga' sinks near the Kish Lighthouse when a submarine got caught in its nets.

The 70-foot trawler ’Sharelga was about 35 miles north east of the Kish Lighthouse when it was dragged by a submarine. The trawler owned by the McEvoy family from Clogherhead had its fishing nets out when fishermen on other vessels say,

It was suddenly dragged backwards at high speed. After being towed for about two miles, the boat overturned and sank.

Nobody was injured as the five crewmen were picked up by two other trawlers and taken to Clogherhead. The submarine has yet to be identified.

Ministry of Defence officials in Britain say it wasn’t one of theirs.

At Clogherhead Pat Connolly, skipper on the rescue trawler, the Supreme spoke to RTÉ News.

Sharelga crew members Mick Kelly and Noel Kirwin describe the incident but skipper Raymond McEvoy was too shocked to be interviewed.

An RTÉ News report broadcast on 18 April 1982. The reporters are Kieron Wood and Brendan O’Brien.