THE METALMAN TRAMORE, COUNTY WATERFORD

The metal man stands on one of three pillars near Newtown Cove, the maratime beacons were constructed through Lloyds of London at the behest of the Admiralty after the tragic loss of 360 lives after HMS Seahorse sank after becoming grounded at Brownstown Head in bad weather, this tragedy happened in 1816.

The metal man is still standing today, and dressed in British sailors clothes, a blue jacket, red top and white trousers. The Metal Man is currently on private land and entry to the lands is blocked as the cliffs around the three pillars are very dangerous and unprotected.

The iron metal man figure itself was designed by Thomas Kirk. Only two of the four figures originally planned to make, were cast from that mould and the other figure sits in the water of Sligo Bay at Rosses Point, here the Metal Man is on a small pillar down in the harbour and not visible for long distances like the one in Tramore. The 3 towers at Westtown and their sisters at Brownstown Head, Tramore were erected in 1823. They are sometimes thought to be the work of Alexander Nimmo, the same architect who designed Dunmore East lighthouse. However, information from the Inspectorate of Irish Lights mentions that George Halpin Snr. was responsible for their design.

People in Waterford tell you that the Metal Man who stands pointing out to see chants in bad weather "Keep out, keep out, good ships from me, for I am the rock of misery. They also say that if you hop around the metal man three times, you will be married before the year is out.
It is sad really that the only really worthwhile monument in Tramore can only be seen from a distance

 

however . . . . .

The Metal man has a bright future!

Press Release from Tramore Tourism
Tramore Tourism is proud to announce that we have acquired the Metalman and pillars on Newtown Head and Brownstown Head from the Commissioners of Irish Lights for the people of Tramore. It came to our attention in 2008 that the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) had deemed the beacons on Newtown Head and Brownstown Head as non functional navigational aids for ships in these modern times and of little use to their operations.  The CIL are a hugely important organization to an Island nation and they do an excellent job, but they are primarily interested in the business of guiding commercial and private ships in and out of our ports and safely through our territorial waters and not in local heritage, tourism or community development. 

The CIL have been instrumental in many other areas around the country by handing over similar disused structures to tourism or community groups to develope local attractions such as the development of Hook Lighthouse in Co. Wexford which has become one of the best visitor centres in the Southeast.  Initially, the CIL offered the beacons to the county council but due to a lack of resources the council declined to take possession of them.  Tramore Tourism was encouraged to seek custodial ownership of the structures and we have been successfully set up a limited company called “Tramore Heritage” which has received them.  This is a non profit company set up to protect and preserve the structures for future generations and to provide a focus for heritage development projects within the town and the East of the county.  The CIL board of directors felt that our plan to feature the pillars and the Metalman in a “Heritage Trail” was the best possible long term use for such significant structures and they are have also suggested that they could help us develope the maritime interpretive centre somewhere within the town as well. 

Tramore Tourism has been working with the county heritage and conservation officers, local historians and other groups, WIT and Failte Ireland to carry out the necessary planning and research to develope a unique and interesting heritage trail for Tramore.  Once established we will seek partners in the public, community and corporate sectors to ensure that the structures are maintained and preserved for our future generations.   The Metalman and the pillars are a significant part of the history of Tramore being in existence for almost two hundred years, and would certainly be the “jewel in the crown” of any heritage trail if we could establish safe public access to the structures.  At this time, ownership of the Metalman and beacons has passed to Tramore Tourism and we will be working to acquire additional maritime artefacts from the Commissioners of Irish Lights and other sources for use in a maritime interpretive centre. 

Our overall vision for a “Heritage Trail” in Tramore would be to highlight and celebrate our rich maritime, cultural, architectural, recreational, and natural history in this beautiful setting where land meets the sea.  We believe that a heritage tail could link these elements together in a way that would uniquely define the meaning and history of seaside Ireland from the sorrow of lost lives at sea, the hardship of the fishermen’s toil, and the gradual development of the resort from Victorian times and the timeless pursuit of fun in the sun.  We truly have a wealth of heritage here that is untapped and unknown even to most of our own citizens.  A heritage trail would benefit residents and visitors alike and could be built up over time to include other elements in the town.  This heritage trail should elevate our tourist product in the region whilst giving us locals another superb walk to enjoy. 

  
Avery Coryell of behalf of Tramore Tourism and Tramore Heritage LLC.