600-TON CARGO VESSEL AGROUND Valentia, Co. Kerry. At 5.48 on the evening of Tuesday the 3rd September, 1963, the honorary secretary received a radio message from Valentia radio station that the 600-ton cargo vessel Holmfield of Liverpool, on passage from Bantry to Liverpool, had gone aground on the rocks on the north end of Whiddy Island in Bantry Bay. The lifeboat Rowland Watts sailed at 6.5 p.m.

on the ebb tide and arrived at the casualty at midnight in a fresh breeze from the west and calm sea. At 4.0 a.m. a line was taken from the ship at the request of the master as wind and tide were carrying her stern on to the rocks, and the life-boat held her clear. The casualty was towed clear at 4.55 a.m. and the Holmfield's master decided to anchor and await daylight before returning to Bantry Bay. The life-boat returned to her station at eleven o'clock after being at sea for 17 hours..