Builders: R Stephenson & Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne 1906
Propulsion type: Triple expansion twin screw
Owners: The Mayor, Alderman and Burgesses of the County of Wallasey, Messrs S, R & F Palmer, Cork Harbour Commissioners
Service dates: 1906 - 19??
Tonnage: Gross 491
Comments:
This steamer was built as a Mersey Ferry boat for service between Liverpool and Seacombe, Liverpool and Egremont, and Liverpool to New Brighton. She was a one class steamer and also undertook some excursion work. She was sold for tender (for Cunard and White Star line ships) and excursion work from Dublin in 1932 and transferred to Cork for similiar work in 1939. In 1946 she was sold to the Cork Harour Commissioners and renamed Blarney. I do not have a record of when she finally went out of service. This ship and her sister, Royal Daffodil (I), became world famous after their exploits at Zeebrugge in April 1918, when they provided vital assistance in the disembarkation and re-embarkation of landing parties from HMS Vindictive. It was after Zeebrugge that the King commanded that the Iris and Daffodil should have the prefix "Royal" added to their names, in recognition of their part in saving the troops.