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A little bit of Rathlin O'Birne at Blackrock

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The non-nuclear Blackrock lighthouse Many lighthouse lovers in Ireland are aware that the tiny island of Rathlin O'Birne, just off the coast of Malin Beg in county Donegal, was the first and, so far, only Irish navigational light to be powered by nuclear energy, rather than the old, fuzzy sort. However, it was very nearly not so, as the original location was supposed to have been Blackrock (Mayo), our most distant light from the mainland, and the second-highest above sea level. (Kudos to anyone who knows the highest without looking it up. I made hen stumble over southern promontory (4,4)) In 1964, Irish Lights was contacted by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment in Harwell, Oxfordshire, about the possibility of converting one of its lights, Blackrock, to nuclear energy. Presumably, this was a pilot project; if it worked, others could have followed suit. Talks continued for a further six years. Several lighthouses were canvassed but the overwhelming favourite, Blackrock, messed...
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Dail charge against Lighthouse Keepers

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  Difficult to get a photo of a Spanish or French fishing boat passing an Irish lighthouse, so here's the Glor na dTonn at Rotten Island (note the complete absence of brandy) From the Irish Times 15th June 1962 :- "A charge that some lighthouse keepers around the Irish coast were accepting presents of brandy from poaching trawlers as a reward for signals about the  pending  arrival of fishery protection corvettes, was made in the Dail yesterday. 'Mr Leneghan (Independent) said that there was mass poaching by French, Spanish and English trawlers. These gentlemen were usually equipped with large stocks of brandy and our coasts were well equipped with lighthouses, and the men in them were not averse to drinking brandy. If his information was correct, these gentlemen were able to signal to those foreign boats when the corvettes were coming in sight. 'Mr Tully (Lab) - I hope deputy Leneghan can prove that statement himself. If not, he should not have made it in the House w...
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Rickard Hamilton at the Tuskar (1880-86)

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The Tuskar. Photo by Richard Cummins I'm currently researching pre-1900 lightkeepers, which is quite a thankless task, as records are few and far between. It seems that, at most lights, nothing newsworthy happened for many years; as a result, most potted biographies of keepers are along the lines of ' Served on the Fastnet 1871 and 1875. Moved to Loop Head some time before 1880. Transferred to Ardglass about 1883' and so on, which doesn't make for interesting reading, unless the person was your ancestor. However, I recently came across 'an old friend,' whom I encountered while writing my Eagle Island book, called Rickard Hamilton and detailing an account of a shipwreck on the Tuskar Rock. To be honest, a musical could be written about Rickard alone (though it would be hard to come up with a short, snappy title) but I will confine myself to the six years and four months that he spent on the Tuskar between 1880 and 1886. Rickard Hamilton (1845-1932) Like my broth...
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A visit to Eeragh 1973

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  Eeragh from Inishmore c2019? The following article appeared in the Irish Times of Saturday August 25th 1973 and was written by Elgy Gillespie, who was, and still is, a freelance journalist. My favourite part is, when questioned about her impromptu visit, she answered that they had written for permission 'and it hadn't been denied us,' which the keepers seemed to accept! Its a very good piece and I've copied it in full. Eeragh c.1903. Note the lush vegetation
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The life, death and legacy of Thomas Sween(e)y

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  Drogheda North light. Photo Richard Cummins From the Drogheda Independent, Saturday 31st January 1914 The death of Mr Thomas Sween(e)y, James St, took place with tragic suddenness on Wednesday evening. Deceased, who had attained to a ripe age – over 70 years – was out that evening, walking along the Mornington Road with his son, Joseph, a man about 40 years old. This son was to leave Drogheda the following day, being home only for the sad purpose of burying his mother. Father and son went for a walk as far as Mornington lighthouse and, on the return journey, when nearing Mr Doherty's house, the old man complained of weakness, and in a moment or so became semi-conscious. Clerical and medical aid were immediately summoned, and Rev Fr Glynn CC, St Mary's, who arrived with great promptitude, was in time to administer the last Sacraments to the dying man. Dr PJ Murray arrived shortly afterwards and pronounced life extict. Deceased was formerly lighthouse keeper at Mornington; he ...
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The plight of assistant keepers 1872

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A totally gratuitous photo of Inishgort lighthouse in Clew Bay. Photo the Western People ' The public will sympathise with the hard fate of assistant keepers in lighthouses. Many of them live on desolate rocks, far out at sea, unvisited for weeks or months, and separated from wife and children. They must be wakeful all night, and keep the lights ever burning which guide or warn the mariner. Lonely lives they lead, with the wild waves ever beating and the storms raging around them. 'They are renumerated by two shillings and five pence a day, and out of this, they must support their wives and families. They did appeal to the Irish Light Commissioners for an increase of salary, and the commissioners munificently promised £1 10s annually to those who had passed five years service, and who had been recommended by the inspector. Thirty shillings annually is very nearly one penny a day, so that the lighthouse-keeper, after five years service ands a recommendation, may receive 2s 6d da...
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A Christmas card to treasure

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  Those of you that remember Christmas cards may recall the rich colouring that were their hallmark, the vibrant reds and greens standing proudly against a pure white blanket of snow to symbolise joy and happiness throughout the world. And that was exactly the sentiment that sprang to mind when I was sent this exhilarating Christmas card from Jane Sims, whose grandfather, Finny O’Sullivan, was a superintendent in the Irish Lights depot in Dun Laoghaire. Printed on a sheet of cream paper, folded in four, the cover features a fingernail-sized, colourless imprint of the Irish Lights’ logo, guaranteed to bring excitement into any child’s heart as she hurriedly tears it from the envelope. It is the inside, though, that marks what Christmas is all about. A beautiful and heartfelt message conveying Christmas Greetings and ‘Good Wishes’ for the receiver’s happiness in the New Year. One can imagine the old keeper sitting in his sparse kitchen on some isolated rock, wiping a tear away fr...
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