Warship · 1880–1884 · Donegal, Ireland

HMS Wasp

Also known as Wasp.

The court-martial records have disappeared. The curse story has not. HMS Wasp was a Banterer-class gunboat ordered to assist in forcible evictions on Inishtrahull Island, north of Malin Head. According to Tory Island folklore, islanders "turned" a cursing stone against the ship.

On 22 September 1884, running under sail with an inexperienced officer at the wheel and insufficient boiler pressure to manoeuvre, the Wasp ran onto rocks at the base of the Tory Island lighthouse, killing 50 of her 56 crew. The official verdict: navigational error. But the inquiry records have since vanished, and theories of sabotage persist.

Type
WarshipBritish
Year built
1880
Lost
September 22nd, 1884Grounding
Casualties
50
Tonnage
465 GRTsteam and sail
Length
38.3 m7.9 m beam
Depth
8–18 m
Location
Donegal, IrelandInner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland

4 of 8 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 46 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

  • Lives lost: 50 shown; range in sources 50–52. Other published figures exist (why sources disagree).
  • Depth: 18 m shown; range in sources 15–18 m. Other published figures exist (why sources disagree).

History and LossLost September 22nd, 1884 · Grounding · Donegal, Ireland.

Shortly before 4 a.m. on 22 September 1884, HMS Wasp ran onto rocks below the lighthouse on Tory Island. She was bound for Moville, where she was to support the sheriff in carrying out evictions, and was travelling under sail with a young officer of little experience at the wheel.

With the fires in her engine room banked down, her boilers lacked the steam to work her clear, and within fifteen minutes she had broken up and gone down. Only 6 of the 56 people aboard survived. A court-martial put the loss down to "navigational error", but the records of the inquiry have since gone missing, and talk of sabotage has never gone away.

On Tory Island, folklore holds that islanders opposed to the evictions laid a curse on the ship.

Built 1880; 4 years in service, also recorded as Wasp. Lost September 22nd, 1884, grounding.

50lives lost on September 22nd, 1884.

Condition of the WreckScattered, in 8–18 m.

Intactness

Scattered wreckage in shallow water near Tory Island. The ship broke apart rapidly on the rocks. Debris field at 8-18m depth.

Notable Features

  • Tory Island "cursing stone" legend — islanders said to have cursed the ship
  • Court-martial records disappeared
  • Ordered to assist in forcible evictions
  • Exposed Atlantic location near Tory Island lighthouse

Regulations and Restrictions

Protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service).

Additional Details11 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Nationality
British
Flag
United Kingdom
Propulsion
Steam and sail
Loss date
September 22nd, 1884
Latitude
55.27° N
Longitude
8.23° W
Water body
Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
War grave
No
Protected
No
Permit required
No
Condition
Scattered

Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.

Background reading is listed for context and is not counted as a citation for the facts above.

A further 3 fields were derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.

Licences and credits for the open data used on this site are on the Attribution page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HMS Wasp?

HMS Wasp is the wreck of a warship, off Donegal, Ireland, at 18 metres. HMS Wasp ran aground and was wrecked in 1884.

How deep is the HMS Wasp?

HMS Wasp lies at 8 to 18 metres, At the foot of Tory Island lighthouse, County Donegal.

How did the HMS Wasp sink?

HMS Wasp ran aground and was wrecked on September 22nd, 1884, off Donegal, Ireland. 50 people lost their lives.

Is the HMS Wasp protected?

Yes. HMS Wasp is protected: protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service).