Great Lighthouses of Ireland shine a light on summer
Seven lighthouses around the coast of Ireland are opening their doors over the May Bank Holiday weekend for a weekend of fun, discovery, stories and thrills.
For hundreds of years, lighthouses have helped seafarers find their way. Now they shine their light on truly unique experiences around the coastline. This will be a special opportunity to get behind the scenes with experts from Irish Lights, and to learn about technology and navigation today. Local historians and storykeepers will provide tours that showcase the natural and cultural highlights.
“Visitors tell us that getting to the top of a lighthouse tower is a unique and special experience. Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, we are encouraging everyone to come and enjoy all that the Great Lighthouses of Ireland (GLI) has to offer,” remarked Yvonne Shields, Irish Lights chief executive.
“Lighthouse keeping was a way of life for keepers and their families for well over 100 years. Advances in technology however meant that lighthouses could be automated, and while all our lighthouses are still fully operational, there is no longer a need for permanent lighthouse keepers to be stationed on site. GLI is a wonderful way of keeping this rich maritime heritage, and the legacy of these lighthouse keepers, alive.”
GLI is a new collaboration between many private and public organisations in coastal communities. The experience has been developed to build on the momentum of the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East and this event is supported by Fáilte Ireland.
“Whether it’s Hook in Wexford; Valentia Island in Kerry; Loop Head in Clare; Fanad Head in Donegal or the Island Lighthouse towers in Cork and Mayo, this is the weekend to discover that part of Irish life and culture where the land meets the sea. “We in Fáilte Ireland are delighted to support this event as it encourages visitors to embrace an authentic piece of our Irish past and to meet with the people and communities who are passionate about these unique places,” remarked Shaun Quinn, CEO of Fáilte Ireland at the opening evening at Fanad Head Lighthouse.
“It wasn’t a job – it was a way of life…,” remarked Gerald Butler, former lighthouse keeper and current lighthouse attendant at Galley Head Lighthouse.
Highlights
Hook Lighthouse: Walk through time; meet 5th Century monks; medieval knights and discover all about the life of a lighthouse keeper during Ireland’s Ancient East tour experience.
Fanad Lighthouse: Hear shipwrecks tales and lifesaving feats, as well as enjoying ceol agus craic at one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world.
Loop Head Lighthouse: Take a guided tour and enjoy spectacular scenery along the peninsula before returning for a feast of seafood and fun.
Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre: Tie nautical knots and welcome back the puffins as they clown around squawking and sea diving.
Valentia Island Lighthouse: Enjoy a traditional music session in the lighthouse keeper’s dwelling house and watch helicopter sea rescue manoeuvres
Clare Ireland Lighthouse: Entertainment by ‘The Singing Sistas’ (1 May, 2-4pm)
Ballycotton Island Lighthouse: Listen to the tales and stories of lighthouse keeping
GLI is supported by the Commissioners of Irish Lights. In their support, Irish Lights is committed to developing a sustainable economic model and reinventing individual lighthouses as visitor attractions and unique self-catering accommodation that contribute to local communities.
Today, Irish Lights operates over sixty automated lighthouses around the coast of Ireland, all of which continue to play a vital role in maritime safety.
GLI project is funded by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA cross border programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes body (SEPUB). GLI operating partners include Irish Landmark Trust; the Royal Society for Protection of Birds; Forbairt Fhanada Teoranta (Fanad Community Group); Clare County Council; Ballycotton Lighthouse Tours; Mid & East Antrim Borough Council; Hook Heritage Limited; Valentia Island Development Company; Kerry County Council and Clare Island Lighthouse. GLI is also supported by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
Great Lighthouses of Ireland
St John’s Point, Co Donegal Fanad Head, Co Donegal
Rathlin West Light, Co Antrim Blackhead, Co Antrim
St John’s Point, Co Down Wicklow Head, Co Wicklow
Hook, Co Wexford Ballycotton, Co Cork
Galley Head, Co Cork Valentia Island, Co Kerry
Loop Head, Co Clare Clare Island, Co Mayo
