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 and universal appeal and are located in some of our island’s most breathtaking coastal landscapes,”  Bobby Kerr, chair of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland, told a conference discussing further development of this type of coastal tourism.

 “Pre-Covid, the Great Lighthouses of Ireland delivered an estimated €16.8m economic benefit in under four years, and supported over 400 jobs,” Kerr noted at the gathering, which opened in Belfast on Sunday.

The three-day conference hosted by the partnership - which was initiated in 2015 by the Commissioners of Irish Lights -  involves sessions on Rathlin Island and Blackhead Lighthouse in Whitehead, Co Antrim.

  “Last year, overnight stays in lighthouses rose to an occupancy rate of 74% - that’s up from 46% in 2019 pre-Covid,” Kerr said.

Commissioners of Irish Lights chief executive Yvonne Shields O’Connor told the conference that lighthouse tourism is a  “ positive and sustainable way to preserve our maritime heritage”.

“It can provide income and jobs for coastal communities and increase visitor numbers to the island of Ireland,” she said.

 Irish Lights maintains some 340 general aids to navigation, including over 60 lighthouses right around the coast, with some of the keepers’ cottages now used for tourism.

Assistant keeper Gerald Butler at West Cork’s Galley Head says the sector is thriving as people are drawn to the tranquillity offered by lighthouse cottages.

Shields O’Connor cited Rathin Island off the Antrim coast as a good example of how lighthouse tourism works at local level.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) runs the island’s West Lighthouse and seabird sanctuary there, while the  Rathlin Development and Community Association are working on plans to repurpose the island’s East Lighthouse for visitors and the community.

Local ferry company Kintra Tours offers boat trips to view all three Rathlin lighthouses and spot puffins and dolphins en route.

Great Lighthouses of Ireland partners include Kintra Boat Tours, Maritime Belfast the Irish Landmark Trust, the Royal Society for Protection of Birds Northern Ireland RSPB, Forbairt Fhanada Teoranta (Fanad Community Group), Killybegs Sea Safari,  Ballycotton Sea Adventures, Cork County Council, Ionad Deirbhile, Hook Heritage limited, Valentia Island Development Company, Kerry County Council, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Clare Island Lighthouse, Cape Clear Ferries, Clare Co Council, and Kerry Aqua Terra Boat Adventure Tours  

Great Lighthouses of Ireland is also supported by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland.