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Rare Chance to Enter the Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse and Take in the View

24th April 2023
Rare opportunity as The Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse in west Cork will for two days next month be made open to the public to enter and take in the wonderful coastal view.
Rare opportunity as The Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse in west Cork will for two days next month be made open to the public to enter and take in the wonderful coastal view. Credit: Kinsale.ie-facebook

The Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse in west Cork is closed to the public for most of the year, however there will be a rare opportunity for the public to enter the lighthouse next month.

Locals and tourists alike will have a chance to witness the stunning views from inside the 30 metre high Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse that was designed by Inspector George Halpin.

Permission has been granted by the Old Head Golf Links and the Commissioners of Irish Lights to raise funds during two days in May.

The fundraising is for the development of the Old Head Signal Tower and Lusitania Museum.

The Open Days will be held on the weekend of Saturday, 13th and Sunday, 14th May.

The lighthouse at the Old Head is one of the major lights on the south coast and also serves as a guide to the entrance of Kinsale Harbour, which is to the east of the light.

The light was first established on 1st October 1853 and the current range of the light is 20 nautical miles.

YayCork has more details on the open days.

Published in Lighthouses
Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Irish Lighthouses

Irish Lights is a maritime organisation delivering essential 24/7 safety and navigation services around the coast of Ireland 365 days. Its focus is reliable and cost-effective services which protect people, property and the marine environment, and support marine industry and coastal communities.

Irish Lights is responsible for providing marine aids to navigation under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention. This remit includes: providing and maintaining over 300 general aids to navigation, managing about 4,000 local aids to navigation and marking or removing dangerous wrecks outside harbour areas around Ireland. Irish Lights also provides contract commercial services for ship charter, buoy and marine data services and supports tourism and heritage activities.

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