Wildfires Have Revealed A Hidden WWII Sign On The Irish Coast

Wildfires on the eastern coast of Ireland have revealed a World War II-era aerial warning sign previously erased from view by undergrowth.

Brought to the surface by the flames, the large white block letters etched into the scorched ground, reading Éire, were discovered by the Garda (Irish police) Air Support Unit as they flew over Bray Head, Country Wicklow following the fire.

Fires on Bray Head expose amazing World War 2 landmarks. The fires exposed the old Eire 8 sign,which is in reasonable condition. Photos courtesy of the Garda Air Support Unit, which is a mixed unit operated by Air Corps Pilots and Garda specialists. @gardainfo @opwireland pic.twitter.com/4vvg3HIjQv
— Irish Air Corps (@IrishAirCorps) August 4, 2018
The word Éire translates as “Ireland” in Gaelic. The sign’s purpose was to alert both allied and German bombers that they were in flight above Ireland, a neutral country. The Bray’s Head discovery is one of over 80 similar whitewashed signs carved into the ground across the country during the war. The Éire landmarks were also numbered as lookout posts. The Bray sign was number eight according to a tweet from the Irish Defence Forces.

Although some of the country’s Éire signs have remained in plain sight since the war, the one atop Bray’s Head was entirely covered by undergrowth and thus invisible to the eye until the blaze on 2 August. Although the É is not as clear as the rest of the letters, it is otherwise in decent condition.

— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) August 4, 2018
A spokesperson explained to Irish broadcaster RTE that “The signs themselves are quite common on the west coast but unusual on the east.” Thus the discovery is an exciting one.

The summer’s heatwave has exposed a number of previously hidden sights including the outline of a 17th-century garden at Chatsworth House and a previously undiscovered henge in County Meath dating back to the early Bronze Age.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.