The island of Ireland has a craggy, rocky shore, and it has lots and lots of lighthouses. I haven't tried to count how many Irish lighthouses I've featured over these past years, looks like more than five and less than ten. I've featured black, red, upside-down, and isolated on a rock Irish lighthouses. So there's quite a bit of variety.
This time, I'm featuring a stainless-steel lighthouse.
The original lighthouse isn't stainless steel; it's a more traditional design, with a keeper's house and a low tower. And that one isn't working anymore, but somebody bought it and might be living there. Getting there might be a challenge, as you'll see.
This is the Roancarrig lighthouse. The new one might be called Roancarrigmore, which is kind of humorous, even if it's inadvertent.
So first, let's see where it is. It's in far southwest Ireland, south of Killarney and Dingle, and west of Cork. (I just had to write that sentence.) The island is in Bantry Bay, which ends at the lovely village of Ballylickey. (I had to write that sentence, too.) Here's where, if you need visual guidance, zoomed out far enough to show where it is in relation to Blarney and Cork. Google Maps doesn't even acknowledge that there's a lighthouse on the island. But if you switch to satellite view, it's pretty obvious that there is. And it's pretty obvious that the lighthouse and keeper's house are the only thing on the island other than a dock, and a helipad. Which is how the owners of the place must get there; I'm not sure where the nearest harbor is, maybe Blackrock to the west. Or where they'd fly the helicopter from. I guess I have to ask, I can't afford it.
OK, so first, let's get the basics from the Lighthouse Directory, and then add some links.
"1847. Inactive since 2012. Approx. 12 m (40 ft) round tower with lantern and gallery attached to 2-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with a single black band under the gallery. ... In late 2010 CIL announced that the light would be moved to a small stainless steel tower adjacent to the lighthouse and this move was completed in May 2012. The new lighthouse (focal plane 18 m (59 ft); flash every 3 s, white or red depending on direction) has a solar-powered LED light. ... In 2016 the historic lighthouse and keeper's house were listed for sale at €130,000 and in early 2017 the property was sold. Located on a small islet off the eastern end of Bere Island, marking the eastern entrance to Castletownbere from Bantry Bay. Accessible only by boat [obviously] "
Lighthouses for Sale or Rent (with many pictures, including the kitchen, and a floor plan. Four bedrooms!
Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) - Roancarrigmore Lighthouse. Describes the new lighthouse, with a picture, that picture is also shown below.
Keeper of the flame on Roancarrigmore Island
Video:
And pictures:
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