Tayleur

The loss of the emigrant ship Tayleur at Lambay

Edward J Bourke

The Tayleur sailed from Liverpool on 20-1-1854 bound for Australia with emigrants for the gold rush at Ballarat near Melbourne. The next day the ship ran ashore at cliffs on Lambay island ten miles north of Dublin. Of 650 aboard only 290 survived, only three of 100 women survived and three children were rescued of fifty aboard. Three inquiries sought to explain how a well found ship was lost so catastrophically. This book summarises the evidence presented showing that faulty compasses, an untried ship, a northerly current and easterly wind all conspired to create the disaster. Listing the crew and apprentices shows that the catch cry of foreign seamen was substantially untrue and even the Chinese aboard had sailed voyages with the captain. The similarities with the Titanic are not over emphasises though the Tayleur was a White Star line ship on her maiden voyage with emigrants. A feature of the book is a study of the partial passenger lists and survivor lists to try come to a conclusion as to how many were on board. Several passengers have been identified who appear on no list and this is useful to genealogists and family historians. The book is illustrated with a selection of drawings and photographs of the ship, the wrecksite and places associated with the story. Published Edward J Bourke 2004 ISBN 09523027 3 X