Sheep's Head Lighthouse is an active 20th century lighthouse positioned on Sheep's Head, County Cork, Ireland.
 Sheep's Head Lighthouse | |
 | |
| Location | County Cork, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°32′35″N 9°50′54″W / 51.54293°N 9.84847°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1968[1] |
| Construction | concrete  |
| Height | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Shape | small cylindrical tower |
| Markings | white |
| Operator | Commissioners of Irish Lights |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1968 |
| Focal height | 83 m (272 ft) |
| Lens | 150-watt lamp, 800mm dioptric lens |
| Intensity | 59,000 candela (white), 15,000 candela (red) |
| Range | 18 nmi (33 km; 21 mi) (white), 15 nmi (28 km; 17 mi) (red) |
| Characteristic | Fl(3) WR 15s |
Construction
editThe lighthouse was commissioned by Irish Lights on the request of the Minister of Transport and Power and built in 1968 by J. Dennehy of Castletownbere and James Bradfield of Cork.[2] The lens for the lighthouse, and other parts and materials, had to be transported by a helicopter, totaling in around 250 trips.[1][3][4] Power was connected to the lighthouse by ESB over 19 electricity poles, at the same time as the Mizen Head signal station was electrified.[5][1]
The design is similar to Achillbeg lighthouse. It is a 7 m (23 ft) high white round tower is situated on a square building, with the light 83 m (272 ft) above sea level. It emits three flashes every 15 seconds. There are backup lights and a backup diesel power source.[1]
The Sheep's Head lighthouse was originally built to aid in the navigation of the tankers servicing the then-new Gulf Oil terminal on Whiddy Island,[2][6] with the first tanker to avail of the aid being the 312,000 t (307,000 long tons; 344,000 short tons) Universe Ireland, then the largest ship in the world, arriving from Kuwait on October 29, 1968.[3][7] To provide the expected service to large tankers, the light from Mizen Head and Sheep's Head lighthouses had to be sufficiently bright which in 1968 was confirmed to be 51,000 candles in the white section for the latter.[8] According to some sources, the Gulf Oil corporation itself was engaged in arranging the construction of the lighthouse.[7]
Access
editThe lighthouse is automatic and not staffed.[9] Visitors can view it from the walking route, the 3.4 km (2.1 mi) "Lighthouse Loop",[10] and climb its stairs.
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Sheeps Head Lighthouse". Comissioners of Irish Lights. Comissioners of Irish Lights. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Good weather aided work on new lighthouse". Cork Weekly Examiner. 22 August 1968.
- ^ a b "Helicopter flew at 125 M.P.H. on trip from Cork". Irish Examiner. 21 September 1968.
- ^ "Air-lift for new lighthouse". Irish Examiner. 8 June 1968.
- ^ "E.S.B. power at the Mizen". Southern Star. 6 July 1968.
- ^ "To guide the tankers in". Southern Star. 19 April 1969.
- ^ a b TGB (29 October 1968). "Great ships in a great bay". Evening Echo.
- ^ "West Cork Lighthouses to increase power". Irish Examiner. 9 October 1968.
- ^ "New lighthouse at Bantry bay". Irish Examiner. 6 June 1968.
- ^ "Sheep's Head - Lighthouse Loop". DiscoverIreland. Fáilte Ireland. Retrieved 15 October 2024.