Coast Guard Station

Howes Strand, Cork

Documenting our Heritage

Howes strand is a small lonely beach close to Kilbrittain, Co. Cork.

The ruin of the long abandoned Coast Guard station overlooks the beach. The station was build in 1910, the station officer was a William Kidney, who originally served in England and was then transferred to Ireland.

The station was attacked twice by the old IRA.

During the second attack,  there were 18 men in the attacking party, with 24 men doing back-up (doing scouting, road blocking, etc). The attacking party was under the command of Charlie Hurley (Bandon Battalion V/C) and Jack Fitzgerald.  There were 15 men in the station - after a brief fight they surrendered and the IRA captured 15 rifles and almost 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

The Coast Guard station was finally burnt and destroyed by the IRA.