Great Lighthouses of Ireland

Since they appeared on the Irish coast, lighthouses have been a source of fascination. Photographer Peter Cox shares some of his photos and explains his fascination with lighthouses. Retired lighthouse keeper Ciarán O’Briain shares how he took up painting because it was important to have a hobby while on duty. Artist Geraldine O’Sullivan explains how lighthouses inspire her.

Lighthouse technology is constantly evolving, ensuring that lights are as bright as possible for the safety of the mariner at sea. This episode explores the history of lighthouse optic ingenuity, from basic oil burners and reflectors, to the invention of the Fresnel lens which enhanced the power of the light; improvements to the light sources, and how lighthouses got their characteristic flashes.

Over on the east coast, the seabed, largely comprising sand and mud, is constantly changing. This is very evident at the notorious Kish Bank off the coast of Dublin, a shallow and dangerous sandbank. Since 1810, a series of lightships, and eventually a lighthouse, have helped mariners passing Kish Bank ((the lighthouse itself is an astounding feat of 20th century engineering).

Starting at the Fastnet off the Co. Cork coast, one of the world’s finest lighthouses, James Morrissey, author of ‘A History of the Fastnet lighthouse’, explains how this engineering masterpiece was built. William Douglass designed the lighthouse, made from more than 2,000 individually carved, interlocking granite blocks which continue to withstand the most ferocious Atlantic storms today.