This year’s National Heritage Week event in the village takes place on Thursday the 27th of August. Local historian and author Noel Sharkey will continue his series of annual on-site talks with a presentation at the Sundial on the the sinking of the “Mary Stoddart” just off Blackrock in April 1858. Eleven men lost their lives in what was the worst disaster ever in Dundalk Bay. Seven were crew members, but four were local people who died in the rescue attempt. One was Captain James Kelly, whose name was subsequently immortalised following the erection of the Kelly monument in Roden Place to commemorate all those who perished in the disaster. Another was James Crosbey from Main Street, Blackrock, who was only 25 when he died. Noel will follow a detailed timeline of the events of that fateful week and, in conjunction with Charley McCarthy, has produced a comprehensive handout to accompany the talk. The evening will culminate with the unveiling of two plaques – one at the site of the house where James Crosbey died after being brought ashore, and a second marking the location of the first Blackrock Lifeboat station which was inaugurated as a response to the disaster. The talk will take place at the Sundial at 7 pm, and admission is free….