13/05/2019
Following the restoration of the large EIRE sign number 8, on Wicklow’s Bray Head, last year, we have been extremely proud to take part in the refurbishment works of number 7 in Dalkey, this year.
The sign, located at Hawk Cliff in Dalkey, south Dublin, was used as a navigational signal during World War II. In 1942-1943, approximately 83 of these signs were built, placed every 10 miles along the coastline, to alert pilots to neutral territory. Unfortunately, from the original 83, only 5 have fully survived today.
The letters are made of small irregular granite stones, held strong, and painted white. The sign is enormous – about 30m wide and 12m from top to bottom. Over six months, more than sixty local volunteers helped with the cleaning and painting of 100 tonnes of stones, to fill the sign.
"We provided 175 litres of SikaGard 670W to render the finished letters in brilliant white colour, as they would have been during the war. The result that the group of volunteers has achieved at the cliffside in Dalkey is just amazing, and I am pleased to see another piece of history brought back to life." Declan Carroll, Managing Director, Sika Ireland
As a testimony to this, Des Burke-Kennedy, a member of Dalkey Tidy Towns, said: “Words are just not enough to express how grateful we are for what Sika has done for us. They have transformed our project. The Sika paint is so effective, and it really is a fantastic product.”