Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse, Kinsale, County Cork

There are references to a lighted beacon at the Old Head in pre-Christian times. The first lighthouse, proper, with a design unique to Ireland, was a cottage-type, with an open coal fire in a brazier on its roof – you will pass its runs on the way out to the Lighthouse.A new lighthouse (across the road from the bazier ruins) was built in 1814. The tower was 12.8 meters (42Feet) high with a concentric building around the base to house the Keepers. The light was frequently obscured by fog or low cloud so it was decided to build a new lighthouse on the point of the headland. This was built by the Corporation’s tradesmen under George Halpin, the Corporation’s Inspector of Lighthouses’s supervision and completed in 1853. The 1814 tower was then partially demolished.In 1985 the fog siren was replaced by an electric horn controlled by a videograph fog detector. The fog signal was disestablished in 2011. Ub 1987 the lighthouse was automated and the Keepers withdrawn. Since then the Lighthouse has been in the care of a part time Attendant.This is one of just over sixty coastal lighthouses and many more harbour and estuary lights I've illustrated. I'll be posting them up each day. The A2 poster of 16 of the most iconic lighthouses is up and ready to ship. If you're interested in a particular lighthouse they're available in A4 or A3 size.www.irelandposters.ie

Loop Head Lighthouse, County Clare

There has been a lighthouse at Loop Head since 1670, originally a signal fire on the roof of a single-storey cottage (which can still be seen on the grounds), where the lightkeeper lived.

The present tower, which stands 23 metres high, was built in 1854. The range of the light is 23 nautical miles and its ‘character’ is a white light flashing four times in 20 seconds. The operation was converted to electricity in 1871, and automated in 1991.

This is one of just over sixty coastal lighthouses and many more harbour and estuary lights I've illustrated. I'll be posting them up each day.
The A2 poster of 16 of the most iconic lighthouses is up and ready to ship. If you're interested in a particular lighthouse they're available in A4 or A3 size.
www.irelandposters.ie

Blackrock Lighthouse, County Sligo

A beacon had been established on Blackrock sometime in the 18th century but had been washed away by 1814 according to the merchants of Sligo who were looking for the beacon to be re-established.

During 1821 the ship owners of Sligo requested that the Blackrock beacon be converted into a lighthouse and the metal man which was proposed to be placed on top should be placed on a pedestal on Perch Rock off Oyster Island. This happened in 1821 but Blackrock beacon was not converted into a lighthouse until 1833-34 using the solid beacon as the base of the tower, hence the outside spiral staircase to the entrance door well above the high water mark. The light was established on 1st June 1835. In the 1930’s, the the tower's colour was changed from white to white with a black band in the centre. It was converted to electric on 15th September 1965 when its character was changed to Fl W 5 secs.

This is one of just over sixty coastal lighthouses and many more harbour and estuary lights I've illustrated. I'll be posting them up each day.
The A2 poster of 16 of the most iconic lighthouses is up and ready to ship. If you're interested in a particular lighthouse they're available in A4 or A3 size.
www.irelandposters.ie

Skelligs Lighthouse, Skellig Michael, County Kerry

Skelligs Lighthouse is one of the main sea lights off the South West coast and is located on the outer and larger of the Skellig rocks; eight miles (12.8km) from the nearest mainland point, North East of Puffin Island.

Legendary references to Skellig rocks go back to pre-Christian times; but the collection of beehive dwellings, oratories and crosses are attributed to Saint Finian around the sixth century. Located close to the beehives is a medieval chapel and two wells dedicated to Saint Michael, patron saint of high places. The monastery, as it is usually referred to, is positioned on the south side of the 611 foot North-East peak at a height of around 550 feet ) above sea level.

When Inishtearaght, the most westerly island of the Blaskets, 22 miles (35.4km) north of Skellig rocks, was established on 1st May 1870, the upper light of Skellig was discontinued. During the 1939-45 war, an aircraft crashed, exploded and fell in flames into the sea off the north side of the rock on 27th February 1944. A search by Keepers and a British aircraft found neither survivors nor wreckage. Fortnightly reliefs by helicopter took over from the Service Steamer out of Castletownbere in November 1969 and a reinforced concrete landing pad was built on the rock near the diesel derrick at Cross Cove.

22nd April 1987 was a sad day for Skellig Michael. After just over 160 years of continuous manning, the station was made unwatched electric. 

This is one of just over sixty coastal lighthouses and many more harbour and estuary lights I've illustrated. I'll be posting them up each day.
The A2 poster of 16 of the most iconic lighthouses is up and ready to ship. If you're interested in a particular lighthouse they're available in A4 or A3 size.
www.irelandposters.ie

Inisheer Lighthouse, Aran Islands, County Galway

Inisheer is a sea light on the southernmost extremity of the chain of Aran Islands and guides vessels into the southern entrance of Galway Bay. Originally a light was established on Inishmore near Dun Oghil at a height of 400 feet along side the Signal Tower. The light was first lit on 1 May 1818 with a revolving optic giving it a flashing character so as not to be confused with either Loop head to the south or Clare Island to the north, both of which were fixed or non-flashing lights. By 31 March 1978 Inisheer was converted to unwatched electric with three diesel generator sets and a mercury vapour lamp as the light source in the 1913 optic - driven by small electric motors. A standby lantern on the main lantern balcony operates from a battery if there is a complete electric breakdown. There is a monitoring radio link between the station and the attendant's house a distance of 2 km away.

This is one of just over sixty coastal lighthouses and many more harbour and estuary lights I've illustrated. I'll be posting them up each day.
The A2 poster of 16 of the most iconic lighthouses is up and ready to ship. If you're interested in a particular lighthouse they're available in A4 or A3 size.
www.irelandposters.ie

Blackhead Lighthouse, county Antrim, Ireland

Blackhead Lighthouse surveys the sea from the edge of a majestic cliff on beautiful Belfast Lough in County Antrim.

Only half an hour from Belfast and on the causeway coastal route, Blackhead Lighthouse was built and its light first exhibited in 1902. The lighthouse also had an explosive fog signal when it first began operation. Blackhead Lighthouse would have guided many famous vessels during Belfast’s golden age of shipping, including the ill-fated Titanic. 
The station was converted to electric operation in 1965 with light keepers living on site until 1975.

This is one of just over sixty coastal lighthouses and many more harbour and estuary lights I've illustrated. I'll be posting them up each day.
The A2 poster of 16 of the most iconic lighthouses is up and ready to ship. If you're interested in a particular lighthouse they're available in A4 or A3 size.
www.irelandposters.ie