Lynch's Quay is the oldest named quay in Cobh and is often referred to as the Ballast Quay. This name originates from the practice of ships in days gone by. They unloaded their precious cargoes here which emptied their holds. It was then necessary to fill the same holds again with various materials including boulders to give stability and weight to the vessel for her outward journey in search of more trade and cargo. The Town Hall was once the local office of the Cork Harbour Commissioners. It was built in 1874 against much opposition because it impeded the view of residents and traders of East Beach. Two memorials stand outside the building today. One commemorates all Irishmen who were lost at sea in the service of the State over the years. The other is a memorial to the men who lost their lives in a tragic shipping incident in the Harbour in 1942.