Lighthouses of Ireland News

New chair: Lance Batchelor will chair the Board of Trinity House that manages the maritime organisation’s role as a General Lighthouse Authority (GLA)

Trinity House Appoints New Chair on Lighthouse Board

2nd April 2024 Lighthouses

Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, and the Channel Islands, has appointed Lance Batchelor as the Chair of its Lighthouse Board, succeeding Sir Alan Massey. Since becoming an Elder Brother in 2022, Lance has been sitting as…

Construction of an enhanced visitor experience facilities at Loop Head Lighthouse in Co. Clare has been approved by An Bord Pleánala.

An Bord Pleánala Approves Construction of Enhanced Visitor Experience at Loop Head Lighthouse

20th March 2024 Lighthouses

Irish Lights has welcomed the announcement of the approval by An Bord Pleánala for the construction of an enhanced visitor experience facilities at Loop Head Lighthouse in Co. Clare. "We are delighted that approval has been granted for the enhancement…

Call for Feedback on Current Aids to Navigation Around Ireland and Great Britain

4th March 2024 Lighthouses

The General Lighthouse Authorities (GLA) have announced a review of the Aids to Navigation (AtoN) provision around the coasts of Ireland and Great Britain. Trinity House will publish the results of the review in 2025, the outcomes of which will…

The General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) of the United Kingdom and Ireland have announced the requirement for an aviation service to support their vital safety service for mariners. Above Afloat adds is the helipad at Fanad Head Lighthouse, Co. Donegal.

General Lighthouse Authorities (GLA's) of the UK and Ireland Announce Requirement for an Aviation Service

3rd March 2024 Lighthouses

The General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) of the United Kingdom and Ireland – Trinity House, Northern Lighthouse Board and Irish Lights have announced the requirement for an aviation service to support their vital safety service for mariners. Known as the Tri-GLA…

Trinity House appoints Damien Oliver who will lead the way on major projects for the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales, Channel Islands & Gibraltar. The GLA is a charity dedicated to safeguarding shipping and seafarers. Above AFLOAT has identified in the background, the merchant shipping vessel of CLdN, the ro-ro freight ferry. Sixtine which operates in both English waters and the Irish Sea on routes between Dublin and continental Europe.

Trinity House Appoints a New Director for Major Projects

19th February 2024 Lighthouses

Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales, Channel Islands and Gibraltar, has recently appointed Damien Oliver as its new Director of Major Projects. Damien’s appointment sees him as the lead on the Vessel Replacement Project, where he…

The bell of an old foghorn symbolises Danny McCarthy’s sound art installation Found Sound (Lost at Sea) 11.1.11

Sound of Ireland’s Maritime History to Echo Through Cork City This Thursday

7th January 2024 Lighthouses

A lost coastal sound will return to echo through Cork city centre for one day this January. Found Sound (Lost at Sea) 11.1.11 is an installation by sound artist Danny McCarthy which, on Thursday 11 January, will resonate across Emmet…

At a ceremony for the first steel plate cut for the Northern Lighthouse Boards aids to navigation tender, built in Spain, was attended by Graham Moffat, Technical Manager, NLB, Javier Martín-Arroyo Borrajo, Gondán Shipbuilders, Phil Day, Director of Operations, NLB and Fernando González also of the shipyard in Asturias. The newbuild replaces NLV Pole Star, as the successor of the same name is to enter in 2025 to support vital safety service to mariners off Scotland and Isle of Man.

Steel-Cutting Ceremony for Northern Lighthouse Board’s New Hybrid Powered Aids to Navigation Vessel

1st November 2023 Lighthouses

A steel-cutting ceremony for the Northern Lighthouse Board’s new state of the art hybrid powered vessel, which is to serve off Scotland and the Isle of Man, took place in a Spanish shipyard, Astilleros Gondán S.A. Phil Day, Director of…

At the east coast harbour town of Wicklow, a small crowd gathered to watch the original dome of the pier’s 130 year-old lighthouse which was blown away in a storm, was reinstated after almost half a century. The lighthouse at the commercial port as Afloat has reported over the years, is also the host-port of the ‘Round Ireland Yacht Race’ which is held biennially.

Dome Returns to Wicklow Harbour Lighthouse After Almost 50 Years

19th October 2023 Lighthouses

The lighthouse at the pierhead of Wicklow Harbour’s east pier, is where a small group of people gathered shortly after first light on Monday, to watch a crane raise into position the original copper dome and lantern. The copper dome…

Elder Brethren: Trinity House has today sworn in Captain Fran Collins, Commodore Duncan Lamb and Rear Admiral Iain Lower at a meeting of its Court.

New Elder Brethren Welcomed by General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales & Channel Islands

17th October 2023 Lighthouses

The General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales, Channel Islands and Gibraltar, Trinity House has welcomed three new Elder Brethren. At a meeting of its Court today, 17 October, Trinity House swore in the three new Elder Brethren: Captain Fran…

Yvonne Shields Chief Executive of Commissioner of Irish Lights with Cillian Phelan (8yrs) Sarah Phelan (6yrs) and Sophie Costello (8yrs) and Lighthouse Keeper Gerald Butler from Galley Head lighthouse. They are pictured in The National Maritime Museum of Ireland in Dun Laoghaire, in the background is the light from Baily lighthouse in Howth, from 1902. They helped launch the Great Lighthouses of Ireland, a new tourism experience featuring twelve lighthouses around the island of Ireland

60 Per Cent Increase in Lighthouse Tourism Stays Since 2019

10th October 2023 Lighthouses

Overnight stays in lighthouses across the island of Ireland have increased by 60 per cent since 2019, the Great Lighthouses of Ireland partnership says. As Afloat reported earlier, lighthouse tourism attracted 622,000 people last year. “Lighthouses have such a special…

Fanad Head Lighthouse in County Donegal is one of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland tourism initiative

Lighthouse Tourism in Ireland Sees Significant Increase, Belfast Conference Hears

8th October 2023 Lighthouses

Lighthouse tourism in Ireland has significantly increased, with a 60% rise in overnight stays in such facilities throughout the country since 2019, according to the Great Lighthouses of Ireland tourism initiative. Last year, over 622,000 people visited lighthouses and lighthouse…

The works, subject to sea conditions, will include removing the cabin, the lighthouse tower and the concrete pillar of the Royal Sovereign Lighthouse

Plans Underway to Remove Britain's Royal Sovereign Lighthouse

30th September 2023 Lighthouses

Plans are being made to remove the Royal Sovereign lighthouse which was a familiar navigational mark for yachts off Britain’s east Sussex coast. It is expected that it will take two years for marine contractors Herbosch-Kiere to complete the work,…

As part of Trinity House’s Merchant Navy Scholarship Scheme, the AFBI is to place Trinity House cadets on board their research vessel MV Corystes, which AFOAT adds is based out of Belfast Harbour. The AFBI pursue an integrated marine science programme in Northern Ireland’s coastal waters, the Irish Sea and adjacent sea areas and Corystes also undertakes fishery work in direct support of policy objectives of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Trinity House In Partnership With Agri-Foods and Biosciences Institute Enhance Opportunities to Merchant Navy Cadets

14th September 2023 Lighthouses

The General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales and the Channel Islands, Trinity House have partnered with the Agri-Foods and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to enhance opportunities to Merchant Navy cadets. The Merchant Navy Scholarship Scheme (MNSS) will create new Deck and Engineer…

Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club members Derek and Alan operating in Loop Head Lighthouse using voice communication as part of the 26th annual International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW)

Limerick Clare Radio Club Contacts Lighthouses Across the Globe at Loop Head Lighthouse

22nd August 2023 Lighthouses

Over the weekend, members of the Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club gathered at Loop Head Lighthouse on the Shannon Estuary for the 26th annual International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend. The club made contact with lighthouses and lightships from around the world, including…

Loop Head Lighthouse at the entrance to the Shannon Estuary is an ideal location for long-distance radio communication attempts due to its isolated location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean

Shannon Estuary's Loop Head Lighthouse Hosts Annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend

15th August 2023 Shannon Estuary

Amateur radio enthusiasts from across Ireland's midwest gathered at Loop Head Lighthouse Experience on the Shannon Estuary in County Clare over the weekend to participate in the 26th annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW). The event, which saw the…

LISW23: Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales, the Channel Islands is to bring their THV Galatea into the Pool of London during London International Shipping Week (LISW23) the ‘must attend’ global shipping event held between 11-15 September. The multi-function buoy tender will served as a venue for a number of events for industry, government and to showcase maritime training and careers.

Trinity House to Bring Buoy Tender As Part of London International Shipping Week (LISW) in September

4th August 2023 Lighthouses

Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales and Channel Islands, has signed up to join London International Shipping Week 2023 (11-15 September). The GLA's multi-function buoy tender THV Galatea is to visit the Pool of London where…