Contributed by Malahide Historical Society

Up until 1973 when the Island Golf Club built a new clubouse at the northern end of the course and more accessible by road, golfers commuting to the Island golf course were rowed over and back from Malahide by local boatmen. Depending on the state of the tide golfers boarded from a long wooden stage or in later years from the concrete slip and disembarked onto a much longer
stage on the opposite shore. The signal to the boatmen to collect golfers was a large disc which was hinged in the centre and could be seen from the Malahide shore. When the disc was in the closed position it was green and blended in with the side wall of the Clubhouse. When opened it showed red and white and was a sign to the boatmen to come and collect golfers. A sudden deterioration in the weather might cause the suspension of the ferry service and require a laborious journey home by train from Donabate or by hackney or whatever transport available via Swords. There were legendary characters among both the boatmen and their passengers and Island members still regale each other and their visitors with wonderful tales of those days. On either side of the main slip are stout wooden posts standing several feet proud of the sand. Probably at least a hundred years in situ, these are the sole survivors of a series of such posts along the shoreline of The Green. They were
used in the days of sailing ships as mooring posts and for hauling them close to the shore for unloading over the side at low water. They were also employed to help turn vessels as required.