The Sheep's Head

 

In the 1960s, Gulf Oil built large holding tanks on Whiddy Island that would temporarily store crude oil from the Gulf before it was shipped on around northern Europe. Supertankers (300,000 tons +) would arrive and deposit their vast cargoes, and slightly smaller ones (c.100,000 tons) would then arrive and fill up with oil for refineries like Southampton and Rotterdam. With such a vital commodity and multi-billion pound cargo, it was decided that a light needed to be placed at the end of the Sheep's Head peninsula to aid the increase in large ocean traffic to the pleasantly rural location. 

At the same time, it was decided to increase the range of the light at Mizen Head. Large tankers would be able to plot their course using the RACON and the Radio Beacon at that station before being guided by the new light into Bantry Bay. The RACON in particular could be picked up by a ship 35 miles out to sea.


During June 1968, all the materials needed for the construction of the lighthouse were helicoptered in to the site, there being no road, just a hiking trail, at the end of the Sheep's Head. It is said that almost 250 lifts were needed from the nearest village, Kilcrohane. The small tower was built by Messrs. Dennehy and Bradfield with the help of local labourers during the summer months. Upon completion, the lantern, optic, standby engine and control gear were then brought in, again by helicopter, to be installed by Irish Lights Technicians McDonald, Hammond, Byrne and Heavey.

 
Photo Irish Lights

After painting (by Depot painter Stephen Kelly), the light became operational on 14th October 1968, just in time for the arrival of the first large oil tanker. A radio link with Mizen Head was set up and the personnel at the latter monitored the new light, phoning attendant James Tobin by landline when necessary. As the light is not visible from Mizen Head due to the sticky-outness of Three Castle Head, a close eye was kept on the light by the keepers on Roancarrig to the north.


The light was pretty much a clone of the light on Achillbeg which had been erected a year or two earlier, though without the additional red light. The walk to the Sheeps Head, I always so, is one of the most pleasant and beautiful lighthouse walks in Ireland. In good weather, anyway.

(Cobbled together from Beam 1.1 and Irish Lights own website)


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