A smugglers' ship seized by Revenue 10 years ago, was sunk in Killala Bay in north Mayo this afternoon.
The 60m ship was intercepted in the summer of 2014, heading from Slovenia towards Drogheda in Co Louth, with 32 million illegal cigarettes on board. After legal proceedings, Revenue took control of the vessel.
The ship was dropped around 30 metres to become an artificial reef, the first of its kind in Ireland.
All of the pollutants and asbestos were removed and plans are afoot to make it an international tourist attraction for divers and visitors along the Wild Atlantic Way.
The ship was sunk by opening its valves, a process which took around two hours, before it dropped to the seabed 29m below, over 4km out in the bay.
Sinking of smuggler ship 'will benefit biodiversity'
The creation of Ireland's first marine artificial reef in Killala Bay will enhance biodiversity in the area and increase marine tourism, according to a member of Mayo County Council.
Experienced diver Michael Loftus explained that Mayo County Council has been trying to get the project off the ground since 2008.
"One of the things around the world at this moment in time is the actual sinking of a lot of wrecks for the very purpose of marine tourism," Mr Loftus said.
He added: "It's been proven that this is a financial benefit to all the areas that it happens in."
An artificial reef is a human-created marine structure which is designed to enhance ecosystems.
Mr Loftus said Mayo County Council was delighted to receive the MV Shingle from Revenue.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Loftus said Mayo County Council was delighted to receive the MV Shingle from Revenue and that it was good that the ship has been given a positive use.
Those behind the project say the man-made reef will attract divers to the area as well as helping marine biodiversity.
The €2 million project, which has been years in the making, is being carried out by a local campaign group - Killala Bay Ships 2 Reef - along with the Revenue Commissioners and Mayo and Sligo county councils.
"They [Revenue] at least saw the benefit by coming to us and agreeing to give it to us, give it cleaned out, as if it was environmentally perfect that we could just sink it to create tourism," he said.
Mr Loftus added that Mayo County Council expects the money spent on making the ship suitable for its new purpose will be paid back within three years.
"We expect that this money that they have spent on it will actually be paid back within a three-year period from diving, tourism, fishing tourism, marine research.
"We hope that colleges and universities around Ireland will use this as a marine vehicle for research," he said.
