Irish Keeper Era Ended at Bailey Lighthouse

05/27/03 1:53 AM

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Photographs, unless otherwise noted are courtesy of the BEAM, The Journal of the Irish Lighthouse Service.

There are no longer any lighthouse keepers on the majestic coast of the land of Leprechauns. All of Ireland's lighthouses are now remotely controlled from a central monitoring facility at the Lighthouse Depot, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Ceremonies in March of 1997, attended by the public and lighthouse officials at the Baily Lighthouse at Howth Head officially ended the era of manned stations around and along the Irish coast.

Attending the ceremony at Baily Lighthouse, Michael O'Neil, Chairman of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, said, "Many occasions are described as historic, but in our Lighthouse Service surely today of all days can be described as such. It is a sad day, hardly a day for celebration, more a day for reflection and remembrance of a way of life that is past. It is a day of dedication to remarkable men whose job description has defied description."

The automation of Baily Lighthouse ended a tradition that started back in 1667, when a coal burning beacon was established at Howth Head. The first actual tower was built here in 1790, high up on a hill from the current structure. Because the lighthouse was often shrouded in clouds, it was replaced by the current tower, lower down on the headland at the Little Baily.

This story appeared in the March 1999 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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