The Monkey Pole, Skerries, Ireland
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
Rockingham, Australia
June 13, 2017 2:52am CST
Today we passed through Skerries, a fishing town on the east side of Ireland just a south of Drogheda. I was intrigued with this pole and on closer inspection I found it was a memorial for people lost at sea.
The original Sea Pole was an icon in the town and was formerly known as the Monkey Pole as night-time revellers would often climb the pole after leaving the pubs and clubs in the area. Officially it was an Apparatus Pole used by the coastguard to hold rescue equipment such as ropes and pulleys. It has since been modified for health and safety reasons.
The names of the vessels and individuals lost at sea are engraved on plaques around the memorial. The sea here has claimed many lives and there are over 270 entries listed in the plaques. It is very fitting that the victims are remembered in this way.
Sorry about the sideways photo. I'll try to correct it. Later: Can't correct it - except to turn it on its other side. 
I'll only put up landscape orientation photos in future.
I'll only put up landscape orientation photos in future.14 people like this
15 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
13 Jun 17
Skerries is where my 88 yr old Mother still cannot stop talking about.
She spent her summers there with her Aunts and loved it.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
14 Jun 17
@JudyEv Yes she is always talking about the beach there..not sure if that pole were there when she was all that many years ago.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jun 17
@TiarasOceanView It may not have been. I think it was about 2000 that it went up.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
24 Jun 17
Interesting history about those lost at sea. Sometimes my photos come out sideways too. I don't know how to correct it.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
25 Jun 17
@JudyEv I have had the same problem with some of my photos. It's frustrating to me.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jun 17
I did turn it a quarter turn but it still showed up sideways but pointing the other way.
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
13 Jun 17
That is a fitting memorial and I hope the names on it become lesser and lesser
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jun 17
I'm sure some still do but it's a bit safer now and there are big disclaimers everywhere if you should hurt yourself on it.
@snowy22315 (170025)
• United States
13 Jun 17
Now, that seems very interesting! I am sure the sea has claimed many lives in that area.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jun 17
I'm sure all fishing villages have lost many people to the sea. She is a hard mistress.
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
13 Jun 17
try running it through facebook, I load stuff there, then save the image to my pc from facebook, it seems to correct orientation automatically
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
15 Jun 17
@JudyEv there are prob other programs that do that. matter of fact I think paint lets you rotate things
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 Jun 17
Those memorials to lost fisher men and women are quite moving. There is one in Newport, Oregon with names inlaid on the sidewalks for blocks.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Jun 17
Very futuristic looking pole. I wouldn't guess memorial.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Jun 17
Sounds like they had to modify it. Drunk people climbing poles can't end well.
1 person likes this
