Laurentic Gun at Downings

This gun, which was originally located on the top deck of the Laurentic, is one of eight recovered from the ill-fated liner. The Laurentic, which was bound for Canada, had just left Buncrana and rounded Dunree Head when it struck a German mine and sank on January 25, 1917. More than 300 sailors, the majority of them Canadian, lost their lives.

The remains of 68 men who lost their lives are buried at Fahan, while two other are buried in Buncrana. There were also more than 300 survivors who were rescued or made their way to shore on the bitterly cold night.

The wreck is one of Ireland’s most popular diving sites, largely because the ship was carrying more than 3,000 bars of gold bullion when it sank. Legend has it that not all of the gold has yet been accounted for.