Lighthouses of Ireland

by Roger O'Reilly

`I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve.' George Bernard Shaw Since ancient times, long before GPS, radio transmission or radar, lighthouses have served as beacons helping ships to navigate Ireland's sometimes treacherous waters. The earliest lights were simply bonfires built on hillsides; in the fifth century, St Dubhan established a brazier of burning wood or turf on the headland of Hy Kinsellagh (now known as Hook Head). Today, despite technological advances, these coastal icons continue to serve as crucial navigational aids for the maritime traffic of our island nation, from the smallest leisure crafts to cargo ships and trawlers. By day, they mark the way with their instantly recognisable appearances; at night, by the character of their signals. One flash every two seconds tells a sailor that they are near Valentia Island off the coast of Kerry. Four flashes every twenty seconds means that they are further north, approaching Loop Head in County Clare. As well as representing a unique part of our maritime history and built heritage, lighthouses are a powerful symbol of strength and resilience in times of darkness. This evokes an irresistible fascination with them in many people. Artist Roger O'Reilly grew up near the Boyne Estuary lighthouse in County Meath and ever since has associated a sense of peace and reassurance with the warm glow of lighthouse beacons. He has spent two years criss-crossing the country to draw dramatic portraits of these sentinels of our shores. Gathered in this extraordinary collection, each beloved landmark is accompanied by a wealth of practical and insightful history, location, elevation, signal and range. This spectacularly illustrated celebration of these architectural gems will be treasured by anyone who finds comfort, intrigue or excitement in the glimmer of a lighthouse through the darkness.

224 pages, Hardcover

Published September 16, 2018

Reviews

[Áine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the type of book you’ll always dip in and out of and it’s likely to adorn many coffee tables and bookshelves especially over the holidays. This is a beautiful and fascinating book for anyone in Ireland or Europe or further afield about the absorbing stories and histories of these edifices.

I’m a big fan of the illustrations as especially the further out light House’s like fastnet or rotten island I’m unlikely to get to but they are evocative. The histories both big and small from historical business of shipping to engineering challenges are just so interesting

You might be able,to tell I’m a fan!