#Lighthouses - The recent documentary series,'Great Lighthouses of Ireland' clearly demonstrated the critical role that lighthouse keepers once played for the Commissioners of Irish Lights, one of three General Lighthouse Authorities (GLA) of the UK and Ireland.
The other partners of the GLA trio is the Northern Lighthouse Board which covers the waters off Scotland and Trinity House is responsible for England, Wales and the Channel Islands in addition to shared areas in which Afloat will have more to report. Together, the GLA have the statutory responsibility for provision of marine aids to navigation around the UK and Ireland. Their joint mission is the delivery of a reliable, efficient and cost-effective aid to navigation service for the benefit and safety of all mariners.
'WW1 Beacons of Light’
Next Sunday, 11th November (Armistice Day) marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War and by way of tribute a series of unique events are being organised, including ‘WW1 Beacons of Light’ in which Trinity House is proud to take part. According to the event organisers of the 'Battle's Over' this will include locations in Ireland and nations internationally (see below).
Trinity House is to light beacons that day, next Sunday at 1900 hours, where over 1,000 gas-powered 'Beacons of Light' will be lit, symbolising an end to the darkness of war. A number of lighthouses and locations will take part, being lit by volunteers from this GLA.
Members of the public are invited to join us at the locations listed below to take part in this unique event. Please note that those wishing to attend need only turn on the day, but it is important to note that access to these locations is often difficult and there are no comfort facilities on site.
Trinity House will light beacons in England and Wales at the following locations:
Heugh Hill Lighthouse (Holy Island, Northumberland)
Flamborough Head Lighthouse (Yorkshire)
Cromer Lighthouse (Norfolk)
Harwich Pier (Essex)
North Foreland Lighthouse (Kent)
St Catherine’s Lighthouse (Isle of Wight)
Portland Bill Lighthouse (Dorset)
Start Point Lighthouse (Devon)
Lizard Lighthouse (Cornwall)
St Annes Head Lighthouse (Pembrokeshire, Wales)
The 'Battle’s Over' event on 11 November 2018 will be held throughout the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Ireland and at scores of locations overseas, including New Zealand, Australia, Bermuda, France, Belgium, Canada, the United States and Germany.
The event is inspired by a comment made on 3 August 1914 by Foreign Minister Sir Edward Grey. He was looking out of his office window at dusk as gas lights were being lit along London’s Mall when he remarked to a friend “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.”
For more information about the 'Battle's Over' visit the website here.
Afloat adds of the following links to all GLA's for information in 'General' about their role and services.
Irish Lights: www.irishlights.ie and related link to the RTE player click to view the 'Great Lighthouses of Ireland' here
Trinity House: www.trinityhouse.co.uk
Northern Lighthouse Board: www.nlb.org.uk
