Cargo vessel · lost 1878 · Wexford, Ireland

SS Idaho

The Idaho's bell is kept in Kehoe's Pub in Kilmore Quay, beside an excellent model of the ship, and one of her anchors stands at the gate of the Kilmore Quay marina. She was an iron-hulled sailing steamer of 3,500 tons, built by Palmers of Jarrow for the Liverpool & Great Western Steam Company.

On passage from New York to Liverpool with 151 passengers, 51 horses, cattle and 1,000 tons of beef, she was put onto Coningmore Rocks off Great Saltee Island by dense fog on 1 June 1878. She slid off the rock and was gone inside 20 minutes, yet everyone on board was saved. Her collapsed remains rest on bright sand at 15-25 metres among the Saltees.

Type
Cargo vessel
Lost
June 1st, 1878Grounding
Casualties
0
Tonnage
3,500 GRTsteam
Depth
15–25 m
Location
Wexford, IrelandCeltic Sea

2 of 6 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 67 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

  • Loss date: Sources give June 1st, 1878, 1878-06-01, 1844-02-24. Other published figures exist (why sources disagree).

History and LossLost June 1st, 1878 · Grounding · Wexford, Ireland.

On 1 June 1878, the SS Idaho was on a transatlantic voyage from New York to Liverpool via Queenstown, carrying 151 passengers and a mixed cargo of 51 horses, cattle, and 1,000 tons of beef. Dense fog enveloped the ship as she approached the Saltee Islands off the Wexford coast. She ran aground on the Coningmore Rocks off Great Saltee Island. The ship drifted off the rock and sank within 20 minutes.

All passengers and crew were rescued without loss of life, a remarkable outcome given the speed of the sinking.

Lost June 1st, 1878, Grounding.

0lives lost on June 1st, 1878.

The Voyage

Cargo
Cattle, horses, 1000 tons of beef

Condition of the WreckBroken, in 15–25 m, on sand.

Intactness

Collapsed and silted wreckage spread across bright sand. Far less intact than the nearby Invercauld wreck. Many wreck-holes provide opportunities for exploration.

Notable Features

  • Bell and model displayed in Kehoe's Pub and Parlour, Kilmore Quay
  • Anchor at Kilmore Quay marina gate
  • Bright surrounding sand aids visibility
  • Built by Palmers of Jarrow, Newcastle
  • All 151 passengers rescued without loss of life
  • 51 horses and cattle cargo

Regulations and Restrictions

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

Additional Details10 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Propulsion
Steam
Loss date
June 1st, 1878
Latitude
52.09° N
Longitude
6.61° W
Water body
Celtic Sea
War grave
No
Protected
No
Permit required
No
Condition
Broken
Seabed
Sand

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.

  • INFOMAR Shipwrecks © Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

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 SS Idaho?

SS Idaho is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Wexford, Ireland, at 25 metres. SS Idaho ran aground and was wrecked in 1878.

How deep is the SS Idaho?

SS Idaho lies at 15 to 25 metres, Coningmore Rocks, off Great Saltee Island, Saltee Islands.

How did the SS Idaho sink?

SS Idaho ran aground and was wrecked on June 1st, 1878, off Wexford, Ireland. No lives were lost.

Is the SS Idaho protected?

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