page_title: HMS Ajax (1809)
section_title: Post-war
hierarchical_section_title: HMS Ajax (1809) / Post-war
caption_attribution_description: The harbour, one of the largest in the country, and base for a major car ferry route to the United Kingdom, is notable for its two granite piers. The East Pier is particularly popular with walkers, and is featured in the 1996 movie Michael Collins, where Liam Neeson (as Collins) and two of his co-stars are seen walking along a sea-side promenade, which is, indeed, the Dún Laoghaire East Pier. A band is seen playing on a bandstand in this movie scene, and this is the actual bandstand on the East Pier. A lighthouse is located at the end of the East Pier. Other features of the town include the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, and a Martello tower in nearby Sandycove known as the James Joyce Tower. It took 42 years to construct the harbour — from 1817 to 1859.
context_page_description: HMS Ajax was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 2 May 1809 at Blackwall Yard.
context_section_description: Ajax was converted to a blockship with screw propulsion for coastal defence (also called 'steam-guard-ships') in 1846. The conversion process involved removing her copper, ballast and some of the bulkheads, and cutting her down in the shape of a blockship.
  From 1846 until 1853 she was stationed as a guardship in Queenstown, now Cobh.   She took part in the Crimean War 1853-1856. In 1854 she was involved in the Bombardment of Bomarsund, Finland.  In 1858 she resumed guardship duties, this time in Kingstown, now Dún Laoghaire, where she remained until 1864 when she was decommissioned and broken up.
  Captain John McNeil Boyd R.N. was master of the Ajax while she was in Dún Laoghaire. On 8 February 1861 there was the worst storm in memory.  29 ships were lost between Wicklow Head and Howth Head, all close to Dún Laoghaire.  Boyd organised rescues, but he and five of his crew were lost.  Fifteen surviving members of the Ajax crew were decorated for bravery and most were promoted.  There are many memorials to Boyd and his men. On 3 December 1863. Ajax was driven ashore at Kingstown. She was refloated.
  It was announced in February 1864 that the Royal George would replace her as the Coast-guard ship at Devonport.
caption: Monument, in Dún Laoghaire, to Captain Boyd and five crew of the Ajax.
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