One
of two Blackrock Lighthouses (the other is in county Mayo) this is a very
photogenic light (as are all of them in Sligo Bay) situated off the end of
Rosses Point. Basically just keep heading west until you hit the sea. There are
good views of it from the land, although probably best not to go in the evening
or you’ll only get a silhouette. Certainly the pictures I got this time were
far clearer than the last time I was here with my old camera.
Blackrock
Lighthouse started out life as a day beacon in the 1700s. Not a very successful
one apparently, as they kept getting washed away. In 1819 another solid, 36
feet tall, limestone beacon was built by a local Ballina builder called Thomas
Hamm. The original idea was that Thmas Kirke’s Metal Man would stand on top of
the beacon but in 1821 it was decided to locate the Metal Man on Perch Rock
between Rosses Point and Oyster Island.
After
a lot of throat clearing from Blackrock, it was decided to make Blackrock into
a proper lighthouse. Another 47 feet stone tower was added to the solid 36 feet
beacon already there and it was painted white. This came to fruition in 1835.
It looks very impressive but the fact that the bottom is solid means that
access is by a stairway running up the outside of the tower, which can’t be
very pleasant in gale force winds, even on the lee side.
From
1863, the lighthouse had two panniers on the outside to increase living space
but these were disposed of in the 1970s. It also acquired a black horizontal
band just above the join of the two towers.
I could be wrong, but I think Sligo Bay's Blackrock lighthouse is the only Irish lighthouse with an external stairs - and I never knew why so thank you for explaining! :)
ReplyDeleteI think you may be right. I can't think of another one???
ReplyDeleteWhere is best viewpoint of blackrock lighthouse co mayo from the mainland
ReplyDeleteEither from Rosses Point or Raghly. I've heard the northwest point of Coney Island too, but I never made it quite that far.
DeleteMy father was keeper at Sligo lights early 70's.i remember going out to service Blackrock with him in a small boat.back then there was a slipway at Austies pub before the road was built. A beautiful station to work and live in, sadly transferred to Inishowen Head shortly after
DeleteWhen researching our family history. My great grandfather was a light house keeper there. Don't know the dates, just the Surname Blick
ReplyDeleteHmm. Blick is not a name I have come across in Irish lightkeeping, so I did a bit of digging. Charles Joseph Barnard Blick was born in Gloucestershire. Married one Sarah Anne Hodges. One son, Ernest, born in Cornwall c 1887 - 1888. Then Violet Blick was born in 1890 at Rockly, Sligo. Now, Raghly is actually very close to the Blackrock lighthouse, just north of it. I was there in April and actually passed the coastguard station there. But Charles was a coastguard. The third child Rose was born in 1895 at Mullaghmore , which is further up the coast. By the 1901 census, the family were down in Ballinskelligs, county Kerry, with Charles described as a commissioned boatman in the coastguard. By 1911, the family were back in Gloucestershire. It was not unusual for English coastguards to serve in Ireland and vice versa - there was much less chance of turning a blind eye if you didn't know the potential smuggler! But, it looks like he wasn't a lightkeeper.
ReplyDeleteMy father was the keeper in Rosses Point early 70's. The two island lights,metal man and Blackrock. I remember going out with him in a small boat to service it. Back then Austie Gillans was right on the water,the road was built later.
ReplyDeleteEnda Scanlon
What was your grandfather's name, Enda?
DeleteI think my Grandad was a lighthouse keeper here in the 1950' or 60's. I have photos at home of him at the lighthouse. His name Richard Fitzgerald.
ReplyDeleteHi Siobhan, I don't have a huge amount about Richard John, Siobhan. The only son of Mr and Mrs R Fitzgerald of Ballybraher, Ballycotton, which means he is doubtless related to Edmund Fitzgerald and his nephew Eddie, who still gives tours to that lighthouse. Richard was born 17/1/39, joined Irish Lights 28/7/59, married Deirdre Eileen Stoker of Mine Head Lighthouse in 1961 at Dungarvan (photo of the couple in the paper!) made Assistant Keeper 1/8/62, first station was the Skelligs. Service number 533. Don't have a complete list of stations but know he moved to St Johns Point (co Down) on 22/2/1974. Still there in 1979, married with 6 dependent children, was Acting Principal Keeper on the Kish from 20/4/1982, went to Rockabill and then Mew Island on 6/1 84. Probably retired or was let go before 1991. Would love a photo of him and any further info you may have. gouldingpeter@gmail.com
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