The Moresby Buoy marked the site of the ship wreck from 1900 to 1906.  It is also a tribute to the gallant efforts of local men who manned the life boat and resued seven, of whom two later succombed.  One lifeboat man lost his own life. 

The bouy is situated where the railway line used to run. This buoy was placed out in the bay after the Ship 'Moresby' was wrecked on 24 December 1895. The chain link fence which runs from Abbeyside to the Causway Bridge which divided the Village from the town is fresly painted. This fence was maintained by the Drohan's who were Blacksmiths back in the 19th and early 20 century.

The buoy commemorates the loss of the 'Moresby' which foundered in Dungarvan Bay on Christmas Eve 1895 with the loss of 20 lives.

History:

The Moresby was an iron-built vessel of around 1155 tons. She was 223.5 feet long, 36 feet wide with a 21 foot hold. She was bound for South America with a cargo of 1778 tons of coal from Cardiff.

She was battered by strong winds and when she appeared off Ballynacourty Point, Dungarvan, county Waterford on the 23rd December 1895. Her sails were in tatters and she was obviously in distress. The Ballynacourty lifeboat went two her assistance, as did another boat from Dungarvan. However, the captain refused to abandon ship and the two boats returned to base, leaving the stricken Moresby anchored to the west of Ballynacourty. However the winds strengthened and by late evening storm force winds lashed the Moresby. She lost one of her anchors and the captain realised that the single remaining anchor would not hold the ship and he knew all was lost.

The following morning a volunteer crew went to Ballynacourty, comandeered the lifeboat and rushed to the Moresby. However many of the crew of the Moresby had jumped ship in a vain attempt to swim to shore. The lifeboat rescued seven of the 25 crew but two of these perished too when the lifeboat reached the shore. In total 20 crew members form the Moresby and one member of the lifeboat crew perished in the disaster. The wreck of the Moresby lay broadside on the Whitehouse Bank in Dungarvan Bay and became a hazard to shipping.

To highlight the position of the wreck, and allow for safe passage, the Wigham Buoy was purchased (at a cost of £200). It was moored close to the wreck and became an invaluable navigation aid for mariners until the wreck was totally removed. The Wigham Buoy was then removed in 1906. The Buoy is now positioned prominently in the Harbour at Dungarvan (near Euro Spar and opposite the Tennis Club).