Dunree Head, county Donegal

Up until 1876, Fanad Head had marked the entrance to Lough Swilly but there were no lights in the lough itself, unlike in neighbouring Lough Foyle, which had so many lights that mariners all wore sunglasses on their way to and from Derry. In 1871, there were many representations to Irish Lights to light the lough and in 1872, representatives of the Elder Brethren of Trinity House came over in their zimmer frames to assess the merits. They decided that Dunree and Buncrana pier should be lit and the Board of Trade concurred.

c.1905

It was decided that the Fort was not the proper place for the lighthouse and the edifice should be erected slightly to the north of, and uphill from, it. As it would be at quite a high elevation, a one-storey building was all that would be required, with the light built into the bay-window type structure facing the lough. It was built by a Mr. McClelland from Derry under the supervision of Mr. R. Shakespeare, who arrived in the little hamlet determined to safeguard ships from the tempests that assailed them. At a cost of £2,354, it really is one of a kind, with no other light like it, in Ireland, anyway.

The first keeper, John Kennedy, arrived to take charge at the end of 1875 and the light, together with the one at the end of Buncrana pier, shone forth on the 15th January 1876. It was a fixed white light, with a 3rd order catodioptric lens, visible for eighteen miles in decent weather. It was a one-family station with the wife or sister of the keeper acting as assistant.

Patrick John Carolin was the keeper from 1912 and through the First World War, After a lifetime serving on Tearaght, Slyne Head, Galley Head and Loop Head, Dunree was a nice pre-retirement reward for his service. Irish Lights instructed him at the beginning of the war to carry out any orders issued by the Fort. According to the War and Raid collection in UCD, the army was keen to let everyone know that the port was closed. What port? They didn't say but I'm assuming Buncrana. The signal for this was three red balls during the day or three red lights at night, hung from the flagstaff. The military requested the use of the lighthouse flagstaff for this as they didn't want to draw the enemy's attention to the fort! I'm sure PJ was delira with this. Let's draw the enemy's attention to the lighthouse instead. There were six signalmen camped outside the lighthouse wall trying to keep the lanterns lit in a storm and eventually they converted the lights to electricity.

In 1927, the light was changed to acetylene, with seven burners replacing the oil wick. It also meant that the keeper was made redundant but J. Murphy was pensioned off and became the attendant. In 1969, the light was converted to electricity.

Some of the keepers who served at Dunree (Irish Lights often called it Dunrea) were:

John Kennedy, the first keeper, arrived from Eagle Island Mayo, with his wife Julia nee Gallagher as Female Assistant. 

John Stapleton and his wife Mary were there from at least 1881 to 1885. John used to take part in the bird surveys.

Jervis Brownell was there from 1886 to at least 1899. He also took part in the bird surveys and had children married and died there.

Hugh Keeny and his wife Susannah were there on the 1901 Census

George Gillespie and his wife Bridget were there on the 1911 Census

Patrick Carolin and Mary nee McCurdy were there from 1912 to 1919, though Patrick was a widower by 1918

J. Murphy was the last keeper in 1927 and the first attendant.

There was also a John Watson, possibly in the 1920s

Other attendants were

Hugh Brennan (1929 - 1951), Mr Curry (1951-55), P. Redmond (1955 -  ), Pat Redmond (2006 - )

 

The new light at Dunree