The museum houses a variety of artifacts,crockery recovered from the Irish Seabed, to large board room models of the vessels that sailed from Holyhead,to Dún Laoghaire and Greenore Ireland. The exhibits cover the maritime and social history of the town from the Iron age up to the present day. One of the oldest artifacts is the Romanesque stone head believed to be the top half of a small obelisk or altar stone the head has three faces with a hole on top of the head measuring 25mm square and deep. This was possibly used to hold a plate or platter with a pin securely
on the top of the head.
During the First and Second World Wars Holyhead lost 4 vessels due to enemy action.
The Tara painted overall Grey in the Port of Alexandria October 1915
S.S. Hibernia renamed when requisitioned by the Royal Navy one month into the First World War H.M. Armed Boarding Vessel 'Tara'. Spent first 12 months patrolling the North Irish Sea.She was then sent to the coast of North Africa, when on the 5th November 1915 she was torpedoed by the U35. Twelve men went down with her
H.M.H.S. Anglia
The Anglia was also requisitioned by the Royal Navy about the same time as the Tara and used as a Hospital Ship,bringing sick and injured troops back to the U.K from France. On the 13th November 1915 some 8 days after the loss of the Tara, She hit a mine in the English Channel laid by the UC5.
R.M.S. Leinster
The R.M.S. Leinster had set sail for Holyhead from Dún Laoghaire on the 15th March 1918. On board were civilians as well as troops. She was torpedoed by the U123 South of the Kish Light Ship. This was the greatest loss of life that has ever occurred in the Irish Sea. Some 501 person perished that day.
S.S. Scotia
Like many large, and small vessels the Scotia went to the aid of the B.E.F. on the beaches at Dunkirk.
1st June 1940, she was dispatched to the Port. Returning to the South Coast midway in the English Channel she was torpedoed, the torpedo failed to detonate and the Captain continued his journey to England. Discharging his cargo of troops, he inspected the damage to the vessel. Having inspected he decided to make a return journey to Dunkirk. Once again loading up with British,French and Belgium troops. Some half hour out of the port the Scotia came under attack from the German Luftwaffe. A bomb fell down the funnel of the vessel blowing out the keel. Once again the people of Holyhead suffered the loss of their loved ones who were members of the crew.
1st June 1940, she was dispatched to the Port. Returning to the South Coast midway in the English Channel she was torpedoed, the torpedo failed to detonate and the Captain continued his journey to England. Discharging his cargo of troops, he inspected the damage to the vessel. Having inspected he decided to make a return journey to Dunkirk. Once again loading up with British,French and Belgium troops. Some half hour out of the port the Scotia came under attack from the German Luftwaffe. A bomb fell down the funnel of the vessel blowing out the keel. Once again the people of Holyhead suffered the loss of their loved ones who were members of the crew.
There are a number of unique artifacts in the museum relating to all four vessels.