Posted online: Mar 18th, 2010

A Donegal person could be landing on Rockall this summer and could even put up the Irish flag on the disputed rocky Atlantic islet that is claimed by the Republic of Ireland, Britain, Iceland and Denmark’s Faroe Islands.
Yorkshire adventurer Andy Strangeway is planning two trips in June to try and land on Rockall.
Initially, he had indicated that he intended to erect a plaque on behalf of the British Queen, to replace one that was erected in 1955, but which has since disappeared.
Now, though, following the story in the Letterkenny Post and an interview on Highland Radio, he has received a number of suggestions.
One of these is that he has a representative from each of the countries claiming rights to Rockall.
“I love the idea of the four flags of the countries who dispute Rockall and of course my Yorkshire flag flying together over the island,” he said.
Rockall lies 430 kilometres off the Donegal coast – the nearest mainland – but the UK formally annexed it in 1972, maintaining that it is closer to the Scottish island of Hirta and under the administration of the Outer Hebrides.
The first recorded landing on the island was in 1811 (HMS Endymion), but it wasn’t until September 1955 that the UK formally claimed uninhabited Rockall.
Recently it came to Mr. Strangeway’s attention that the Queen’s plaque – and with it the UK’s symbolic claim to Rockall – was no longer to be found on the small rock.
In recent years the controversy over Rockall has re-surfaced, largely due to the possibility that the Rockall basin could hold significant oil and gas reserves.
The expedition will consist of two back to back trips, both leaving from Oban in Scotland. The cost involved per berth is from £1,795 per berth, Further details are available by e-mailling: info@island-man.co.uk