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Patrick Whelan (273)

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This is the only Irish Lights' transfer sheet I've ever come across, dated 24th March 1944. It appears that, reading from the bottom, PKs Blakely and Colfer swapped stations, as did Crowley and Staniforth. Then, still ascending the table O'Donnell was transferred from District Stores to AK at Kinsale, replacing Cahill, who went to Blackrock Mayo, replacing PV Whelan who went to the Hook, replacing Tom Hyde who went to the Bull Rock, replacing Hearne, who went to Dundalk, replacing Cecil Stocker who went on promotion to PK to the Hook. All this jiggery-pokery with the AKs looks like it was all because the PK at the top of the list, P. Whelan (273) had the misfortune to die on the 15th of the month. New Ross Standard April 21st 1944 Of course, I had to find out what happened to P. Whelan (273). His death cert says he was 54 years old and married, and was principal keeper of the Hook lighthouse where he had died  of a coronary thrombosis (heart attack). I then checked the list...
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Lightkeepers and guns

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Skellig Upper light It can be surmised that many lightkeepers on Irish coasts owned guns, particularly in the real old days when families lived on offshore rocks and islands and needed to shoot wildlife to supplement their diet of tinned food. The bird reports submitted to Barrington by keepers in the latter half of the nineteenth century contain many examples of birds sent to the ornithologist that had been expertly shot by the keepers. Rabbits were another source of nutrition. John Crowley shot a 'sea monster' (probably a basking shark) with a shotgun off Mutton Island in 1935. And so on. It was inevitable, therefore, that the odd accident should occur involving guns, though maybe not so many have come to light as may be imagined. (I'm not talking about fog guns, which were extremely dangerous and resulted in many serious injuries at places like the Tuskar, Rathlin Island and aboard the Princess Alexandra . As well as causing severe deafness in a lot of keepers)  In Novem...
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Another buoy comes a-visiting

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From mayo.ie 6th October 2026 Mayo County Council is coordinating the recovery of an unusual visitor to the county's  coastline after a large Canadian Coast Guard buoy washed ashore on Achill Island  and is believed to have travelled thousands of kilometres from Canadian waters , having  completed an extraordinary journey across the Atlantic Ocean. Following contact with the Canadian Coast Guard, Mayo County Council was informed  that their buoys are known to be "very friendly" and occasionally develop a habit of  travelling far from home. The buoy, which weighs approximately 3.5 tonnes, was discovered on the shoreline in Achill.  To ensure maritime safety, Mayo County Council is arranging to recover the buoy from  the shoreline. There is a risk that it could refloat and become a hazard to vessels or coastal  infrastructure. Plans are in place to refloat the buoy and tow it to Roonagh Pier before  transporting it to one of the Council's depo...
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Sendy nowt a nesso ess

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It is now ten years since the good people of Fanad opened the doors of the lighthouse to the public. Whether you go for the tour only, or stay in the lightkeepers' dwellings, you get a taste of how the keepers lived, you see what they saw when they were up in the lantern room, you climb the same stairs that they climbed. It can never be the authentic experience but it has given thousands of visitors a taste of what the job entailed.  Aside from preserving the maritime heritage of the lighthouse and the local area, the project has given valuable employment to local people in an area that can hardly be said to be heaving with investment. And, as anybody who has visited can vouch, they are lovely people too. As part of the ten year celebrations,  Teach Solais Fhánada  is giving ten people the opportunity to stay at the lighthouse. I did this a few years ago with members of the family and it was a magical experience. I particularly enjoyed the walk to and from the local pub (...
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John Crowley gets the measles (1962)

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  The Maidens (photo Larne Times archive) From the Belfast Newsletter 14th December 1962 John Noel-Crowley (528) was born on 21st December 1936 and had joined Irish Lights in May 1958. He was the son of John Crowley (LK 328) and Amelia O'Connell from Cahirciveen. His brother, Oliver (513), also made principal keeper. Any keeper I ever spoke to about him held him in high regard. Due to the problems of relief boats not being able to get out to lighthouses, and the absence of proper medical supplies at offshore stations, what we regard today as ordinary, non-dangerous illnesses, could be a cause for serious concern for lightkeepers, particularly in the pre-helicopter days.  John-Noel Crowley (1936-2022)
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Photobombing Poolbeg lighthouse

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  Oprah chats to the Poolbeg lighthouse about surviving old age in a world of technology. Photo Oprah Winfrey
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North Wall Quay, Dublin, 1937

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From the Irish Press 6th October 1937. In 1937, the North Wall pier in Dublin port was extended which, naturally, left the 1904 light sitting uselessly mid-pier. Should they knock it down and build it up again? Not at all. Far easier to get a giant wheelbarrow and move it bodily. Actually, I have no idea how they did it. I move my washing machine by lifting up one side and slipping a sheet of cardboard underneath. Just sayin'... Still going strong today. However, news from Dublin Port is that they are going to shorten the pier, which means her ladyship will be moving again! A previous incarnation 1888 Detail from a sketch 1864 Brocas (which one?) sketch. No date, guessing 1800-1830
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