A large amount of wreckage (believed to be from the ST COLUMBA) rests in a narrow gully and comprises an Admiralty-pattern anchor, a row of bitts and cleats, iron girders and hull plates. The wreckage continues into deeper water with a jumble of iron rods possibly being the remains of one the paddle wheels. Wreckage consistent with this was reported by a diver (J. Roseveare) to the UKHO in 2024.

Event and Historical Information:
The ST COLUMBA was an iron-hulled paddle steamer belonging to the City of Dublin Steamship Company. The vessel was used on the Dublin to Liverpool run. It left Dublin on the 20 June 1873 under the command of captain Johnson. It was carrying nearly 300 passengers and a considerable quantity of cargo and a large number of cattle and sheep, bound for Liverpool. The passengers included many Irish labourers going to assist in the harvest. When the steamer left Dublin the weather was fine, but hazy, with scarcely any wind stirring. As the steamer proceeded, the fog thickened and at length became so dense that it was necessary to slacken speed and proceed with great caution. At around 2am, the steamer struck on the west side of the Skerries. It immediately parted amidships and began to fill with water. Several of the ship's boats were broken in attempts to launch them, but eventually one of the ship's officer, Jones, swan to the island with a rope and the transfer of the passengers to the land could commence. Those who perished were a fireman, said to bear the name of Ryan, and four passengers. A few dozen cattle and some sheep were saved from the wreck, but the rest of the animals were drowned. The steam tug ROCKLIGHT which had been employed in towing the vessel to sea, removed the passengers to Holyhead. The ST COLUMBA had only recently undergone a complete overhaul and had been fitted with a commodious new cabin.

Sources include:

Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald, 28 June 1873

North Wales Chronicle, 28 june 1873, issue 2427

UKHO ID 104482: Contains public sector information, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, from UK Hydrographic Office.

J. Whitewright, RCAHMW, November 2024.