Another look-out post on Ireland's coast

@JudyEv (382357)
Rockingham, Australia
April 28, 2023 3:55pm CST
Can you see the little ‘bump’ on the top of the mountain? This is LOP 59 (Look Out Post 59). It is situated on Achill Island off the coast of county Mayo, Ireland. I wrote earlier about small huts being built around the coast of Ireland between 1939 and 1942. These were manned to watch for any invaders coming across the Atlantic. Also, at each of the LOPs, a number would be laid out on the ground in stone. This would allow aircraft pilots to identify exactly where they were. Navigational gear wasn’t as accurate then as it is now and, if a plane had been hit by enemy fire, then it might reach land without knowing if it was over alien country or not. We weren’t able to go up to LOP59 but the outpost looked very exposed and lonely on top of the mountain.
13 people like this
11 responses
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
29 Apr 23
I'd also live there Judy
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OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
29 Apr 23
@JudyEv Yes and freezing lashing rain
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr 23
@RebeccasFarm Yes, that too.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr 23
You'd at least have magnificent views.
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DE
@DaddyEvil (174590)
• United States
28 Apr 23
I'm hoping there was more than one person assigned to each lookout post.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr 23
I guess there would have been a group/troop/whatever taking shifts at watching.
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M Cheung
@Beestring (15372)
• Hong Kong
29 Apr 23
@JudyEv That's better.
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Jenaisle
@Jenaisle (16568)
• Philippines
29 Apr 23
Yes, it looks lonely and could be easily targeted. Shouldn't it suppose to be high but hidden from enemy eyes? Anyway, nice shot. The beach looks clean and pristine, It would be a good place to take a swim, I assume. Thank you for the information. I learned something again.
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Jenaisle
@Jenaisle (16568)
• Philippines
29 Apr 23
@JudyEv hahaha, I see, it makes sense, now that you've said it. but what about foot soldiers with snipers...I'm just trying to be funny, Don't mind me.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr 23
Any enemy ships or aircraft would have been looking for cities or industrial areas. They would bother with a small hut miles from anywhere.
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Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49775)
• India
11 May 23
In Northernmost parts of India, like in Kargil, where a short war took place between India and Pakistan in 1999, we had Point 5140, Point 4875 etc probably representing height above sea level. (Yes very high elevations). There was fierce fighting to get back these posts. Probably the same for Ireland but I don't think that Ireland witnessed as fierce as fighting even during WWII.
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Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49775)
• India
12 May 23
@JudyEv Unlike England, which faced a barrage of Air attacks from Germany during the WWII especially London (The Battle of Britain).
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 May 23
That is probably correct. I don't think Ireland saw any fighting on its own shores during the war.
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Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21492)
• London, England
29 Apr 23
There are a lot of relics from the early war years in the UK, especially around here. Think look out posts are thin on the ground though
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr 23
We saw something similar in the far north-west of Scotland too. The history surrounding WW I and II is really fascinating.
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Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21492)
• London, England
30 Apr 23
@JudyEv Once you know what to look for you can find all kinds of things half hidden
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 23
@Ronrybs I can well believe it.
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LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222623)
• United States
1 May 23
It's definitely in a remote area. Lovely scenery.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 23
We would have had to go miles round the other side to get to it and we were a bit limited for time.
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Amber
@AmbiePam (120999)
• United States
28 Apr 23
What an isolating perspective, but so mysterious.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr 23
It would certainly be isolated.
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BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (51837)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
29 Apr 23
Is that another one in the foreground?
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr 23
No, that might be a toilet block or a private house. I can't remember now. The LOPs were always high on a headland somewhere.
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rebelann1949
@rebelann (117259)
• El Paso, Texas
28 Apr 23
Oh wow, Those times were terrifying. It's a good thing they did all that for pilots to navigate with.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr 23
It would have been a help to them for sure.
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (54719)
• United States
28 Apr 23
That water gave them a lovely view.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr 23
You would be able to see 360 degrees from the top.
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (98072)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Apr 23
That is very interesting and glad they were helpful in those times,
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382357)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Apr 23
They are trying to restore them all. Some have just about disappeared - at least the numbers have.
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