Stephen Whitney, Maritime wreck site near West Calf Island, Ireland.
Stephen Whitney was a passenger ship traveling from New York to Liverpool in 1847 with about 110 people on board. The vessel carried cargo including cotton, corn, cheese, and clocks before striking rocks off the Irish coast.
On November 10, 1847, thick fog caused navigation errors and the ship struck rocks near West Calf Island. About 92 people on board died in this tragedy during the period of the Great Irish Famine.
The wreck influenced maritime regulations as authorities replaced the Cape Clear Island lighthouse with a new structure on Fastnet Rock for improved navigation.
The wreck lies near West Calf Island off the Irish coast in Roaringwater Bay. The site is mainly accessible to divers and maritime history enthusiasts interested in exploring shipwrecks.
The ship broke apart in just ten minutes after striking the rocks, scattering debris across the entire bay. The disaster occurred during the Great Irish Famine, making it part of a darker chapter in Irish history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.