Aud’s Kerry mission was doomed from the outset

With no radio, the ship’s captain had no way of knowing he was in Tralee Bay three days earlier than expected, writes Ryle Dwyer

THE Aud had sailed under orders to deliver the cargo of arms and ammunition at Fenit between Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday. But after it had sailed Patrick Pearse notified Berlin that the ship should not arrive before the evening of Easter Sunday.

The Aud had no radio on board, so Captain Karl Spindler had no way of knowing on arriving in Tralee Bay on Holy Thursday, that he was more than three days ahead of time. There was no sign of the submarine with Casement, and Spindler was perplexed that there was no pilot to guide the Aud into Fenit Pier. He waited in the bay throughout the day and the night for the pre-arranged signal from the pilot.