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 of visitor facilities at Loop Head Lighthouse and we congratulate our Great Lighthouses of Ireland partner, Clare County Council," said Yvonne Shields O’ Connor, CEO of Irish Lights.

"This project aligns perfectly with our mission to promote the rich maritime and lighthouse heritage of Ireland, north and south, and provide unforgettable experiences for visitors in a sustainable way. Anyone familiar with Loop Head will know what a unique setting it is and it’s great to see this project get the required approval. "

The Great Lighthouses of Ireland partnership across 17 lighthouse sites delivers 23 unique tourism experiences. The partnership is led by Irish Lights, who founded it in 2015, and is made up of public, private and community sector partners. It delivers an estimated €16.8m in economic benefit annually and supports over 400 direct and indirect jobs in coastal communities. It offers visitors the opportunity to stay at or visit a lighthouse and to enjoy experiences and tours based around the vicinity of the lighthouse.

The project's approval comes after extensive consultation and planning, with a focus on sustainability and conservation. To book your Great Lighthouses of Ireland adventure go to www.greatlighthouses.com

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 in Japan and Australia. Visitors to the lighthouse were able to listen in to communications with amateur radio stations across the globe during the 48-hour broadcast.

The event was a success, with positive feedback from visitors and a special QSL card designed to mark the occasion. Loop Head Lighthouse Experience is one of Ireland's 17 Great Lighthouses and a popular attraction in West Clare.

In Co. Clare the Loop Head Lighthouse Visitor Experience has swung open its doors for the first time in two years following a €1.2m upgrade.

Located at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary with its origins dating back to the 1670s, the lighthouse was first opened to visitors in 2011 and has since become one of West Clare’s most popular attractions. The lighthouse also is one of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland and is one of the county’s two Signature Discovery Points along the route of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Kitty Garvey whose late husband Brendan was the Loop Head’s final lightkeeper before the lighthouse was automated by the Commissioner of Irish Lights (CIL) in 1991, was among the special guests at Friday’s official opening.

A series of upgrade and renovation works have been completed at the Loop Head Visitor Experience as a result of funding received from the Department of Rural and Community Development through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) with match funding from Clare County Council. The combined works have cost €1.2m.

Clare Echo has further coverage on the funding and works that has taken place at the coastal tourist attraction.

#Lighthouses – Ever fancied a break staying in a lighthouse, away in some remote stretch of coastline, then look no further.

The Irish Landmark Trust, have five such lighthouse properties dotted around the coast in which the public can rent on self-catering basis.

Get to experience breath-taking views and stunning backdrops from these beautifully restored lighthouses. To view further details of each lighthouse and how to make a booking, click the links below.

Blackhead Lighthouse, Whitehead in Co. Antrim  Lightkeepers House One  AND  Lightkeepers House Two

Galley Head Lighthouse, Clonakilty, Co Cork  Lightkeepers House One  AND Lightkeepers House Two

Loop Head Lighthouse, Kilbaha, Co. Clare

Wicklow Lighthouse, Dunbar Head, Co. Wicklow

For information about the role of the Irish Landmark Trust, whose remit is to save interesting and unusual 'landmark' properties throughout the island of Ireland, and to re-use them, once restored, as good quality self-catering holiday accommodation visit: http://www.irishlandmark.com/about/about-us.aspx

#LOOP HEAD LIGHTHOUSE – An Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to officially open a new exhibition at the Loop Head Lighthouse and to launch the 2012 visitor season at the west Clare tourist attraction on 18th May.

The Clare Herald also reports that the Taoiseach's grandfather, James McGinley was a former keeper at the lighthouse (still in operation) which can date its origins back to the 1670s.

Clare County Council, along with Shannon Development, Loop Head Tourism and the Commissioners of Irish Lights, conducted a successful trial scheme in 2011 that resulted in an estimated 17,000 people visiting the landmark building. This year's season will see the visitor attraction open to the public from 19th May.

In addition the Irish Landmark Trust rents out a five-bed former lighthouse-keepers house. The property stands in the grounds of the navigation landmark located at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary.

#LIGHTHOUSES - Loop Head Lighthouse in Co Clare, is set to re-open to the public later this year following a successful trial scheme last summer.

As The Irish Times reports, Clare County Council opened the lighthouse for an 11-week trial period last July with the support of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, Shannon Development and Loop Head Tourism.

Some 17,000 people took up the invitation to visit the 23-metre beacon, which is still in use as a navigational aid, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

The consortium is now looking for consultants to help expand tourism the facility with an exhibition and interpretation plan.

The boost is revealed in the state-owned company's annual report which shows the facility made a bottom-line profit for the year of €1.1 million – a five-fold increase on 2009. Operating cash flows rose to €3 million, up from €2.7 million a year earlier. To read more click HERE.

Late last month the Co. Limerick port was busy particularly with the seasonal arrival of three cruise ships and all made within one week, for more click HERE. This Friday sees the return of one of those cruise-callers, the French-flagged Le Diamant which is on charter to operator Inter Cruises.

Her arrival will be followed by P&O Cruises latest addition Adonia on Saturday. With 710 berths the 30,000 tonnes vessel is the smallest of the seven-strong fleet which can accommodate between 1,800 and up to 3,100 passengers as in the case of the Azura. The 115,000 tonnes vessel departed Dublin Port this evening. Her first call to the port was last year (click HERE) and she is the largest cruise ship to call to the capital.

On Tuesday of next week the 9,000 tonnes Spirit of Adventure (cruises) marks the third cruise caller to Foynes. The port is along with five other terminals located throughout the country's largest estuary are operated by the Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC).

Incidentally Spirit of Adventure and Azura where two of another trio of cruise ships that visited the Port of Cork on Monday, with Holland America Line's 59,000 tonnes Rotterdam forming the third vessel. This was the first occasion that Cork has handled this number of cruise ships on a single day, bringing 7,000 passengers which set a new record for the port.