Ballycotton Lighthouse

Ballycotton Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse positioned on Ballycotton Island, east of Ballycotton, County Cork, on the south coast of Ireland.[1] The lighthouse is maintained by the Commissioners of Irish Lights[2] and is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as "a significant addition to the historical record and maritime heritage of Ireland".[3]

Ballycotton Lighthouse
Ballycotton Lighthouse
LocationBallycotton Island, County Cork, Republic of Ireland
Coordinates51°49′33″N 7°59′03″W
Tower
Constructed1848
Constructiongranite tower
Automated1991 Edit this on Wikidata
Height15 m (49 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markingsblack tower, red balcony
OperatorCommissioners of Irish Lights Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit1 June 1851 Edit this on Wikidata
Focal height59 m (194 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Lenscatadioptric prism (fixed inner), annular lenses (rotating outer)
Range21 nmi (39 km; 24 mi) (white), 17 nmi (31 km; 20 mi) (red) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicFl WR 10s Edit this on Wikidata
Ireland no.CIL-0290

Distinctively, it is one of only a handful of lighthouses in the world painted black, which was chosen to distinguish it from Capel Island's (unlit) beacon.[4][5][6][7] Capel Island is where the lighthouse was initially to be located, but ultimately a decision was made to build it on Ballycotton Island.[8] It is also one of few examples of lighthouses featuring some of the lower panes made of red glass with the consequence that ships approaching too close to land may be warned by an apparent change of colour.[9]

History

The lighthouse was built in response to a number of sinkings in the area,[10] most notably that of the SS Sirius in January 1847.[8][6] The cost of the lighthouse was estimated in 1849 to be £10,000.[10]

The lighthouse was designed by George Halpin,[11] and commissioned in 1851 and by 1899 four keepers were housed in the town with keepers rotating duty at the lighthouse.[2] In 1975 the light was converted to electricity, and after introducing automation in 1991[12] the keepers were withdrawn on March 28, 1992.[13][2]

Former lighthouse keeper's houses attached to the site are still visible, alongside more recent keepers' accommodation.[3] To the east of the tower, there is a white foghorn which aided in navigation; it replaced a much larger fog bell tower which was originally used for this purpose.[14] The foghorn itself, powered by a 1000V line, was decommissioned in 2011.[2] To the west of the tower there is a small helipad.

Defunct foghorn on Ballycotton Island
Ballycotton Lighthouse, view from Ballycotton shore

Tourism

The lighthouse is reachable by boat from the Ballycotton harbour. Occasional boat tours to the lighthouse were organized as early as 19th century,[15] but were officially open to public only in 2014 [12] and as of 2023 guided tours are available in English and Polish.[16] A small quay on the island itself facilitates disembarking.

References
  1. McCarthy, Kevin (1997). Lighthouses of Ireland. Pineapple Press. ISBN 9781561641314.
  2. "Ballycotton Lighthouse". Commissioners of Irish Lights.
  3. "Ballycotton Lighthouse, BALLYCOTTON ISLAND, CORK". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Dublin, Ireland. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2023. The survival of this important and attractive grouping of lighthouse and associated lighthouse keeper's structures presents a significant addition to the historical record and maritime heritage of Ireland, particularly relevant since the automation of lighthouses along the Irish coastline has put these complexes at risk.
  4. Mahon, Tom (12 April 2022). The Ballycotton Job. Mercier Press. ISBN 9781781174449. one of only three lighthouses in the world painted black; the others being in Texas and Australia.
  5. Pochin Mould, Daphne (1991). Discovering Cork. Brandon. ISBN 9780863221293. It is unusual among lighthouses in being painted black
  6. MacCarthy, Dan (27 August 2018). "Ballycotton - black is the colour". Irish Examiner. Cork.
  7. Fodor's Essential Ireland 2024. Fodor's. 26 September 2023. ISBN 9781640976290. one of Ireland's rare black lighthouses
  8. Krauskopf, Sharma; Wilson, Heather (2001). Irish Lighthouses. Globe Pequot Press. p. 21. ISBN 9780762709441. OCLC 48910884.
  9. Findlay, Alexander (1864). A description and list of the lighthouses of the world, 1861. R.H. Laurie. OCLC 1082583569.
  10. "New Lighthouse on Ballycotton Island". The Illustrated London News. London, UK. 20 October 1849. p. 272.
  11. hare, David (2022). The Great Lighthouses of Ireland. Gill Books. p. 21. ISBN 9780717195251. OCLC 48910884.
  12. "Public get chance to visit Ballycotton lighthouse". Evening Echo. 10 July 2014. p. 17.
  13. "Ballycotton History". Ballycotton Development Company. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008.
  14. Ball, Robert S. (1900). "Photograph of Ballycotton Lighthouse Station". National Library of Ireland.
  15. "Tour ad in the Cork Examiner". The Cork Examiner. 11 August 1885. p. 1.
  16. Delaney, Caroline (8 May 2023). "All aboard: Buoy your spirits with a lighthouse visit in Ballycotton". Cork: Irish Examiner.

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