Wine Stand from TSS Hibernia

'TSS Hibernia’ had been built by William Denny and Brothers on behalf of the London and North Western Railway. From January 1900, she served as an express passenger steamer on the Irish Sea, at first between Holyhead and North Wall Dublin, and later between Holyhead and Kingstown (modern Dún Laoghaire).

 

With the outbreak of WWI, ‘Hibernia’ was commandeered by the Admiralty and renamed ‘HMS Tara.’ Prior to the war, the ship’s crew had largely been from Holyhead and Anglesey. Many of these men were retained for active service and were aboard ‘Tara’ when she was torpedoed on 5 November 1915.

 

This wine stand was likely removed from ‘Hibernia’ when she was refit in readiness for war. It is now on display in the "Holyhead at War" permanent exhibition, situated in an authentic WWII air raid shelter alongside Holyhead Maritime Museum.