page_title: Coast Watching Service
section_title: EIRE markings
hierarchical_section_title: Coast Watching Service / EIRE markings
caption_attribution_description: English: From 1939-1942 83 Lookout Posts, LOPs, were built at strategic points along coastline of Ireland. EIRE signs marked location of the LOPs.
context_page_description: The Irish Defence Forces established a Coast Watching Service in the run up to World War II, known in the Republic of Ireland as The Emergency, while the State remained neutral. Between 1939 and 1942 the construction of 83 Lookout Posts, LOPs, took place at strategic points along the Irish coastline and the local volunteers serving at these posts were responsible for monitoring the Irish coastline for belligerent activity at sea. The LOPS were designed by Howard Cooke RIBA of the Irish Office of Public Works in 1939.
  After the hostilities ended most of these buildings were abandoned and some were removed. Traces of a significant number remain in place and some are in relatively good repair. In general, structures in more isolated locations have tended to remain in place.
context_section_description: Following the construction of the network of lookout posts along the coast of Ireland, it was decided to add large signs marking the coast as EIRE. According to Michael Kennedy's book on the coastwatching service, Guarding Neutral Ireland,  it was "a way to reduce the number of aircraft landing because their crews had lost their bearings". Kennedy's research indicates that these signs were constructed at the behest of the American authorities.
  A number of signs such as the one at Cahore Point in Wicklow were built too small initially and so larger signs were built over them at a later stage. A number of the signs still exist in varying states of repair, mostly along the west of the country and in addition some of have been renovated such as the one in Loop Head, County Clare.
caption: EIRE Sign at Glengad Head, Ireland.
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