Give us a sign: Wartime signal revealed by gorse fire in Co Wicklow

A Garda Air Support Unit crew have discovered an "EIRE" sign dating from the Second World War in Co Wicklow.

The sign in Bray Head is made entirely of stone, and was made visible due to a large gorse fire that took place on the headland two weeks ago.

The signs were originally curated around the country to warn air crews of their location in neutral Irish territory during the war.

The Defence Forces Air Corps were helping emergency services extinguish the fire when they noticed the sign from above.

A spokesperson said "The signs themselves are quite common on the west coast but unusual on the east.

"The Air Corps helped put the fire out and then the Garda helicopter, which we fly, noticed the sign emerging from the past."

Up to 150 tonnes of stone were used in some of the 83 signs dotted around the coast of Ireland.

At the request of the United States air force the number of the nearby lookout post was added, turning the signs into air navigation aids.

This assisted American bomber pilots in navigating across the Atlantic.