While many parts of the country were on snow alert, Courtown Harbour was on “high winds alert” as the angry south-easterly wind caused treacherous waves in the harbour and adjoining beaches.

Jim Murphy, Officer-in-Charge, Courtown and Arklow Coast Guard, confirmed that the coast guard service was on high alert on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but the time passed without incident.

However, mystery surrounds the identity of a large red buoy that washed up at Roney Point, just south of Courtown.

The Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre in Dublin alerted the local coast guard to a flashing red buoy which they were requested to demobilise.

“The light was still flashing when it was found and that had to be demobilised as it could mislead shipping and cause a disaster,” said Jim Murphy.

Nobody knows where the buoy came from, or how long it had been drifting in the sea, but an international maritime hunt is on to find out.

The Commissioners of Irish Lights have confirmed it doesn’t belong to them and there are no buoys of this type reported missing along the eastern Wexford coast.

The buoy weighs 375 kgs, stands about eight feet tall, is red in colour and has the number ‘6’ stamped on it.

The flashing light uses solar power and the buoy would have been used in a channel as part of a navigation system and would have been anchored to the sea bed by a chain.

It is unknown how long the buoy was in the sea or where it came from, but it has been established that it was manufactured in Tuam, Co. Galway.

The Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre are continuing an investigation in an attempt to identify ownership as it is a vital navigational piece of equipment and is important for the safety of shipping.

Full story in THE GOREY ECHO.