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Lighthouses of Ireland News
Irish Lights, in partnership with RTE’s 100 celebrations, is to feature Summer solstice shows from Céilí House and Late Date from 9pm on Saturday, 20 June.
Irish Lights, the maritime and navigation services organisation, is to partner with RTÉ Radio 1 for a unique series of live broadcasts celebrating RTÉ’s centenary and the enduring power of late-night radio. For generations, radio has been intertwined with the…
The Royal College of Art in London has announced its Aids to Navigation research project, which is to develop sustainable, low-cost marine aids to navigation for developing nations.
The Royal College of Art (RCA) in London has announced the launch of a new transformative design initiative aimed at enhancing maritime safety in Small Islands and Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). In a partnership with Hawkshill…
Far West: Blacksod Lighthouse stands on Ireland’s Atlantic edge with Achill Island rising beyond to the south under bright Mayo skies.
It won’t have escaped Ireland’s large Standing Army of amateur meteorologists that the notably high temperatures which have been achieved in recent days have not been matched in May since 1944, when – unlike 2026 - most of the month…
Swift Response: Dun Laoghaire RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat underway near the Baily Lighthouse during a call-out to assist a yacht in difficulty close to busy shipping lanes.
Dun Laoghaire RNLI launched on Saturday afternoon (25 April) to assist a yacht in difficulty near the Baily Lighthouse. The call came from the Irish Coast Guard after two sailors reported sail handling issues close to the traffic separation scheme.…
At the launch of a new EPA‑funded research initiative, Leveraging Island LiGhthouses and Harnessing Technology to examine Heritage Opportunities in Unique offShore Environments (LIGHTHOUSE) at Irish Lights Headquarters (Front left) Yvonne Shields O’Connor, CEO, Irish Lights,  Back left to right: Catherine Dalton, Professor of Environmental Geography, Mary Immaculate College - University of Limerick, Paul Scott, Head of Ecological Guidance and Advisory Unit, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), (front right) Caroline Wynne,  Senior Manager for Research Strategy, EPA
A new EPA‑funded research initiative, Leveraging Island LiGhthouses and Harnessing Technology to examine Heritage Opportunities in Unique offShore Environments (LIGHTHOUSE), has been launched at Irish Lights Headquarters in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. This is a unique project internationally, and its objective…
Crew Collective Group from the Association of Lighthouse Keepers gathered at Blyth Tall Ship during a heritage visit to workshops and maritime facilities.
Blyth Tall Ship has hosted members of the Association of Lighthouse Keepers during a visit focused on maritime heritage and skills. The group, drawn from across the UK, toured the vessel’s workshops and met craftspeople maintaining traditional techniques. Shipwright and…
Beacon Reborn — Project team members gather beneath the restored North Lighthouse at Mornington following completion of a decade-long conservation programme safeguarding the 1842 structure.
The conservation of the North Lighthouse at Mornington has been completed following a programme of works that began in 2016. The project was supervised by conservation architect Fergal McGirl and supported under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme administered by Meath…
Dursey Shore Lighthouse Residence offers sea access via a private slipway, framed by views of Dursey Island and the Atlantic.
A historic waterfront residence with private sea access and panoramic Atlantic views is on the market in West Cork. Dursey Shore Lighthouse Residence sits high on rugged cliffs overlooking Dursey Sound, framed by Dursey Island and Crow Head. It features…
Beacon Of Learning: Apprentice Alex Hassan at Trinity House supports lighthouse maintenance and operational systems as part of National Apprenticeship Week, highlighting maritime skills development.
Trinity House has marked National Apprenticeship Week by highlighting the role apprentices play in supporting its maritime operations. The General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar joined organisations nationwide to celebrate the annual initiative, held from…
HRH The Princess Royal officially named the new Northern Lighthouse Board aids to navigation and buoy handling vessel NLV Pole Star at the vessel’s port of registry, Leith, near Edinburgh. Princess Anne with masters on the bridge of the newbuild NLV Pole Star at Leith Docks.
The royal patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board has officially named their newest aids to navigation and buoy handling vessel, which Afloat reported on its delivery voyage to Scotland last month. At a ceremony, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal,…
The Dunbrody Archers perform the historic Arrow Ceremony at Hook Lighthouse, County Wexford, reviving a 17th-century tradition symbolising maritime authority and heritage.
A centuries-old maritime tradition is being revived today at Hook Lighthouse. The Arrow Ceremony takes place at 1pm on New Year’s Day at the 800-year-old landmark in County Wexford, recognised as the world’s oldest intact operational lighthouse. The event is…
Christmas Day delivery as the newbuild NLV Pole Star on its maiden arrival to Oban, West Scotland, marks an important step towards more sustainable maritime operations, using new technology to minimise the impact on the environment and additional capability to help deal with the effects of climate change.
A new aids to navigation vessel for the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) arrived in Oban, west Scotland, on Christmas Day, on completion of a three-day delivery from a shipyard in Spain. The £51.8 million newbuild NLV Pole Star had received…
Northern Lights: Illuminating the newbuild aids to navigation/buoy-laying vessel NLV Pole Star, built in Spain for the Northern Lighthouse Board, has carried out sea trials in the Bay of Biscay. The new vessel is expected to make a delivery voyage this month to Scotland.
The Northern Lighthouse Board's new build aids to navigation vessel, as Afloat previously reported, left its shipyard in Spain to carry out sea trials in the Bay of Biscay. The new vessel, to be named NLV Pole Star, is to…
Minister Darragh O’Brien announces a €145m investment for the Irish Coast Guard and maritime projects including a proposed replacement of the Irish Lights vessel Granuaile pictured above left in Cork Harbour .
A sum of €145 million for the Irish Coast Guard building programme and proposed replacement of the Commissioners of Irish Lights vessel Granuaile is part of the Government’s sectoral investment plan for transport approved by Cabinet. Minister for Transport Darragh…
A former Scotland serving buoy and lighthouse tender, NLV Fingal at Leith, near Edinburgh, is ranked No. 1 in ‘The Times’ prestigious list of the UK’s quirkiest hotels. The above romantic dining experience with its art deco-inspired nautical design (albeit a 1963-built) vessel, based in Oban, west Scotland, is berthed in Leith Docks along with former UK Royal Yacht, HMY Britannia is open to the public. During Fingal’s career it shared duties served in Irish waters, having been observed in Dun Laoghaire Harbour in 1994—Afloat will have more to report of that rare occasion.
Near to the Scottish capital is where a notably unusual hotel has been described as "outstanding in every possible way," having been named the quirkiest in the UK. The HeraldScotland reports, the ‘floating’ world-famous Fingal Hotel in Leith Docks, near Edinburgh, was…
“Brightest
Did you know that, when the Dublin-manufactured light in Galley Head lighthouse in West Cork began sending out its signal in 1878, it was at that time the brightest light of its kind ever made? All this and more will…

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.

Emergency Response: If you notice any aid to navigation is not functioning correctly please contact our 24-hour emergency number 01 280 1996

Great Lighthouses of Ireland

St John's Point, Co Donegal 
Fanad Head, Co Donegal
Rathlin West Light, Co Antrim
Blackhead, Co Antrim
St John’s Point, Co Down
Wicklow Head, Co Wicklow
The Great Light and Titanic Walkway, Belfast
Hook, Co Wexford
Ballycotton, Co Cork
Galley Head, Co Cork
Valentia Island, Co Kerry
Loop Head, Co Clare
Clare Island, Co Mayo
Fastnet Rock Boat Tours