Poer Head (also called and pronounced Power Head) lies about four miles east south east of Roches Point, although the name does not appear on my sat nav. Therefore I used the coordinates 51°45.595'N, 008°06.679'W and was somewhat taken aback to find that a T-Junction was my 'destination'. However, a quick call to a nearby house advised me to take the road to the right, skirt the locked gate and follow the cliff path 'for ten minutes' to reach the Head.
Well, it was one windy day! The beach at Inch was deserted and the grey seas smashed into it in a particularly uninviting fashion. After about 15 minutes I came to the small compound at the end of the headland.
Poer Head was unique among Irish Lights stations as it was the only one that didn't include a light.It operated from 1879 to 1970 as a fog signal station. Built under the direction of the celebrated William Douglass, it started out life as steam siren and ended up as a combination of Ruston engine and Atlas Copco compressor, whatever that is. It was then transferred to the Old Head of Kinsale.
Approaching down the cliff path, I at first thought that the outhouse in the bottom two pictures was the old fog station, as it bore a resemblance to the Barr Point Fog Signal Station. However, a notice to Cork County Council on the gate looking for planning permission made me re-think, and I eventually figured it out.
There were two semi-detached houses from the 1870s (the white house in the photo above) which must have been the keeper's cottages. There was a large house from the 1950s - the other large house with the single double chimney, with a wooden free-standing building behind (to be converted into a granny flat)
In 2012 we holidayed in the summer on the lovely Sheeps Head peninsular and I expressed an opinion that I could easily live there. Ah, said my wife, but wait till you see it in the winter. I was reminded of her words visiting Poer Head, imagining myself trapped in the ex-fog signal station cum holiday apartment by a storm force wind.
I doubt very much that you could build a holiday apartment out of this bunker!
As always another great series. Always enjoy your posts. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteAnd, as always, I appreciate your comments, Neal!
ReplyDeleteI just came across your post on here by happenstance. Some years ago (c2001) I visited Pwr Head with a view to buying and restoring it. I was totally besotted by the place. Eventually, I saw the light and realised that having three active children running about close to such high cliffs would have been a mistake. I'll always remember it though and wonder what might have been.
ReplyDeleteHi Chris, yes, it has a kind of magic to it and a beautiful, small sandy beach nearby (which, even in the biting wind and grey skies looked quite inviting!) but I think you're right. You couldn't let active kids out there with any degree of certainty that they wouldn't try to push the boundaries!
ReplyDeleteHi Peter, saw your pictures - fab. I lived here as a child up till about 1970 (my father was PP O'Connor the keeper there). Yes we did have to avoid all the cliffs! So sad to see it in such a run down state. Are the Commissioners planning to build or has it been sold on?
ReplyDeleteJohn
Thanks for that
DeleteHi John, Have just finished writing a book on Eagle Island. Your Dad, of course, served there. I have one fairly poor photo of him and was wondering if you have a better one. I could squeeze it in!! Any of your Dad's anecdotes about Eagle, also very welcome. gouldingpeter@gmail.com
DeleteHi Peter, I was born there whilst my Father, David M. O'Donnell, was one of the 2 keepers stationed there in 1943. My sister Marie, was born there also.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember much about the place, except for the very steep front garden. We left here when I was 2 , moving to Skerries , Co. Dublin (Rockabill lighthouse), At Poer Head, do remember sitting on my Pop's lap while he played cards. He loved to play a game called 110, i think well-known card game with Irish lightkeepers.
regards
Hugh O'Donnell, London
Hi Hugh, David born 8/5/1910, served at Arranmore, Haulbowline, Bull Rock, Poer Head etc. Must be one of the few O'Donnells who didn't serve on Eagle Island!!
DeleteHi Peter, Yes, You've got him well recorded. I remember telling me of how some German airmen whose airplane was shot down by the RAF near to Bull Rock , came onto the Bull Rock on an inflatable and gave up their sidearms to the keepers. My Father got a Luger which he kept, and was in our cutlery drawer for years (without bullets). We used to play with this as little kids (cowboys and indians) but nobody wanted the Luger because it was to heavy for little hands,
DeleteI dont know what happened to it.
The Germans were all young, happy to be alive and in Ireland. They went ashore as soon as the weather allowed, smiling and waving to the Keepers (as my Father told me)
kind regards
Hugh
I’ve, at last, found out exactly where I was born! I was always told I was born at a lighthouse and now I discover that Poer Head was a fog station. No wonder I could never find it? I was born there in 1940 when my father George Hearne was a light keeper there. Has anyone heard of him? I lived most of my young life at lighthouses which I loved. Father was stationed, among other lighthouses, at Bull Rock, Island Magee, Larne, Fanad Head, Aranmore, Mine Head and The Hook.
DeleteHi, I'm delighted that you were able to stretch back to your origins via the blog. Makes it all seem worthwhile. Ok, your dad born 10th July 1911 in Houseland, Templetown co Wexford (very close to Hook!), parents John and Ellen both National School teachers. He must have been near enough the last of 12 children, as Ellen was 43 on the 1911 Census. Joined Irish Lights 2/2/36, became Assistant Keeper 8/9/37. First station - Bull Rock 11/9/37 (where he married Mary Frances Kelly in Glengariff, a publican's daughter), Poer Head 10/9/38, back to the Bull in April 1943, Dundalk 20/4/44 and Fanad in 46. Had a 2nd class cert in wireless telegraphy in 1946. Mentioned as playing accordion on a programme recorded for RTE on Arranmore in May 1953. Mentioned as being on the Hook in 1955. One Marguerita Hearne of Mine Head lighthouse won a Sky Blue budgie in 1956. That's all I have, I'm afraid. Pete gouldingpeter@gmail.com
DeleteHi Hugh, I have just come upon your post relating to Poor Head. My grandfather John (Jack) King was also stationed at Poor Head in the 1930’s. My mum was born at Skerries in 1936 while Jack was in Rockabill. Jack spent two term of service at the Baily as PK as well as serving at the Fastnet, and Wicklow Head -and many more. I have no doubt that Jack and your father must have known each other well -and possibly even served together. Susan
DeleteHi Peter, thank you so much for your info about my father George Hearne. Most of it I know of course but not all. Where did you get the info? I must visit Poer Head next time I visit Ireland. Been to The Hook lots of times. Lots of family round there. Many thanks again.
DeleteNuala Hearne
Hi Pete, thank you so much for all the info you gave me about my father, George Hearne. Most of it I know but not all. Where did you get all the info? I must try to visit Poer Head now I’ve learned so much more about it. Been back to The Hook many times. Lots of family around there.
ReplyDeleteHi my Dad Liam o Driscoll was stationed there for a while living with my Mum sister and brother around 1958?
ReplyDelete