Displaying items by tag: Culture Night

20th September 2017

Culture Night 2017: Join in the Harvest Moon Celebration at Hook Head Lighthouse

Culture Night 2017 (Friday 22 September) Among those events with a maritime setting is the Harvest Moon Celebration taking place at Hook Head Lighthouse, Co. Wexford

#CutlureNight - Among the numerous events of Culture Night 2017 there are those with a distinct maritime theme. A notable event taking place on the night (Friday 22 Sept) is the annual Harvest Moon celebration at Hook Head Lighthouse, Co. Wexford.

So come along to this second year of the autumnal event and enjoy watching the sunset and harvest moon rise over Hook Peninsula beneath the protective beam of the world’s oldest intact operational lighthouse.

A special late opening from 6pm will take place at the Lighthouse Visitor Centre, where you are invited to come along and find a spot on the straw bales around the fire-pits on the lighthouse lawns and watch nature at its best during the autumn equinox.

Why not also enjoy some treats from the Hook Lighthouse Barbeque and some Hook Pilsner. Take a sample of the brand new Hook beers and a harvest brew from Arthurstown Brewing Company which have all been locally brewed from the harvesting of grown malted barley.

Also at this beautiful coasting setting will be Musicians among them Brendan Keane playing some songs from his forthcoming album, 'Dreaming in Parallel'. Keane has opened, in a solo acoustic capacity, for some of Ireland, and the world's, biggest acts including Status Quo, Rod Stewart, the Christians, multiple Grammy-winner, Albert Lee, Mundy, Jack L and Juliet Turner.

There's also a photographers competition as part of the celebration event. So anyone who wishes to take part can have their image considered for the competition. To do so email your image along with contact details to [email protected] by 5pm on the Sunday, 25 September.

For much more on Culture Night in general click here and for the Harvest Moon at the Hook Lighthouse visit: www.hookheritage.ie/

Published in Lighthouses

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.