Eire 80

Eighty years ago, a large whitewashed “80 EIRE” sign was cut into the rock at Malin Head on the Inishowen Peninsula, Ireland’s northernmost mainland point.

This sign, along with more than 80 others around the Irish coastline, was created to warn Axis forces that they had entered neutral territory and to serve as a navigational aid for Allied pilots.

Today, many decades after World War II, most of these signs have fallen into disrepair, with fewer than a quarter still visible. Malin Head’s unique position—and its long-standing role in maritime history, weather forecasting, and more recently, tourism—has ensured its upkeep and continued visibility.

If you find yourself on the Inishowen Peninsula and the weather is clear, make your way to Malin Head. Walk out onto the rocks, pause by the old marker, and reflect on 80 EIRE and what it represented all those years ago. Then get back to your car quickly, before the weather changes its mind and blows you halfway back down the peninsula.


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