A people without the knowledge of their past history is like a tree without roots.” (Marcus Garvey)
John Power of Olinda, Kilmore Quay, devoted much of his retirement to preserving the maritime memory of the south Wexford coast, a coastline shaped by fishing, storms, shipwrecks, and generations who made their living from the sea. In a place often described as “the graveyard of a thousand ships,” he became one of its most important local historians, gathering stories that might otherwise have disappeared with the passing of older fishermen and sailors.
The Man Who Remembered the Sea
His landmark three-volume work, A Maritime History of County Wexford, was the result of fifteen years of painstaking research and stands among the most comprehensive historical works ever written on County Wexford since George Henry Bassett’s The History of Wexford County Guide and Directory in 1885 and Hore’s History of County Wexford in the 1890s. A former editor of the Kilmore Parish Journal, John spent hours examining Government papers, public inquiry reports, harbour board minutes, coastguard and lifeboat records, the Register of the Receiver of Wreck, and local, national, and English newspapers in pursuit of the stories hidden within the county’s maritime past.
His books became an invaluable archive of local knowledge at a time when much oral history risked being lost forever. John recorded the names of ships wrecked off the coast, the circumstances of their loss, and the memories that survived among local people. Among local historians and maritime enthusiasts, his publications earned enormous respect for their detail, accuracy, and authenticity. They remain essential reading for anyone interested in the nautical heritage of County Wexford. Divers, archaeologists, genealogists, fishermen, and coastal walkers continue to rely on his work when trying to identify wreck sites or understand the maritime landscape around Kilmore Quay.
In addition to his books, John wrote extensively for the Kilmore Parish Journal, contributed fishing and maritime articles to Irish Skipper and Fishing News, curated large maritime exhibitions in Kilmore Quay, and maintained a vast archive of photographs, wreck records, and historical material connected to the south Wexford coast.
Archivist of the Oul’ Times
But John was far more than a collector of facts. He understood that maritime history was not simply about vessels and dates, but about communities shaped by the Atlantic and Irish Sea, whose fortunes, tragedies, and traditions were inseparable from the waters around them. Deeply rooted in and passionate about his local area, he formed close connections with many families, spending time with them and listening to their memories of the past. Through remarkable diligence and patience, he preserved the quieter history of lighthouse keepers, lifeboat crews, and generations of Kilmore Quay fishermen.
Among his most personal and community-focused works were the two volumes of Pictorial History of the People of Kilmore Parish. These books documented the people themselves: families, houses, schools, workplaces, boats, and the rhythms of everyday life in the parish across generations. Built from John’s enormous archive of photographs (almost 4,000 images), they became an invaluable visual record of a disappearing world. His 2021 exhibition, Kilmore Quay Village in the Rare Oul’ Times, reflected this same passion for preserving local memory. It featured photographs of all 38 thatched houses that stood in the village during the 1940s and 1950s, alongside images of the families who lived within them.
Architect of the Memorial Garden
John Power was also the principal architect behind the Memorial Garden in Kilmore Quay, a moving and important tribute dedicated to all those lost at sea. Shaped like a mooring bollard, the garden features a stone ship and compass fountain, which John designed and built himself alongside local residents. The garden also incorporates a propeller blade from the ship “Lennox,” which was lost off the Saltee Islands, a wreck John researched extensively and later documented in Volume 2 of his book, A Maritime History of County Wexford.
A Legacy That Will Endure
Perhaps most importantly, John Power preserved a sense of continuity between past and present. Every piece of wreckage uncovered after a storm, every old photograph of a fishing boat, and every story recalled along the harbour pier gains meaning because of the foundation he laid. His work ensured that the maritime and cultural history of Kilmore Quay (and the wider south Wexford coast) would not simply disappear beneath shifting sands and fading memory.
Today, his legacy endures in the books he wrote, the archives he assembled, and the deep appreciation for local history that he inspired within the Kilmore Quay community and beyond. Through his dedication, John Power ensured that the stories of the sea and of the people who lived by it would continue to be remembered for generations to come.
John Power passed away at his home in Olinda on July 9th, 2024, aged 90, surrounded by his loved ones. This article stands as a tribute to his life, achievements, and his outstanding contribution to the heritage of Kilmore Quay.
John Power’s Published Works
Major Maritime Works
1. Above and Beyond the Call of Duty (1993): A history and tribute to the rescue services and lifeboat crews associated with Kilmore Quay Lifeboat Station.
2. A Maritime History of County Wexford – Volume I (1859–1910): Published in 2011 as part of a three-volume series documenting Wexford’s maritime history.
3. A Maritime History of County Wexford – Volume II (1911–1960): Continuation of the county’s maritime record, covering shipping, fishing, wrecks, lifeboats, and harbour development.
4. A Maritime History of County Wexford – Volume III (1961–1998): Published in 2014 after nearly twenty years of research.
Local and Photographic Histories
- Photographic History of the Charles Vize Family (A local historical and photographic compilation)
- Pictorial History of the People of Kilmore Parish – Volume I (A photographic/social history of the parish and its people)
- Pictorial History of the People of Kilmore Parish – Volume II (Follow-up volume continuing the local photographic archive)
* Limited copies of some of his works remain available, including Maritime History Volumes 1 and 3, as well as The History of the Charles Vize Family. To order, contact:
All photos were kindly provided by John Power’s family.
