Tarbert Habour Light

Located on a tidal rock in the Shannon Estuary, on the northern side of Tarbert Island, County Kerry. A seventy four ft tower established in 1834. Although technically termed a 'harbour light', it certainly looks like a fully fledged lighthouse to me. There are not many lighthouses I've seen with such a distinctly formed taper. 

Built at the request of Limerick Merchants the habour light was deemed necessary to light a treacherous turn in the river and help mark the southern entrance to Clonderalaw Bay to the northeast. The connecting sixty one metre cast-iron footbridge was not constructed until 1841. Not sure this photo captures it - but I've climbed a many gates on adventuring to lighthouses, none have been so small, cute and open as this one!

Small accessible gates aside, this is no place for a casual visitor. In fact, a structure that would have one time towered above every building around, now appears dwarfed beside the neighbouring chimneys of the ESB station behind it. Its light, just a glow in the ESB galaxy. You would wonder of the necessity of a lighthouse there at all now, but nautical traditions (thankfully) die hard, and it is still in operation today, but instead of being maintained by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, it is under the care of the Limerick Habour Commissioners. Not that it matters much to the reader, because this lighthouse is on ESB property (shakes fist) and therefore tricky to get to.

I was lucky to have a friend in tow on this excursion, with a family member in the know of the area, and the power station itself (having worked there himself once upon a time). Discussions were had on the eve of the trip out to Tarbert, and a plan of action was made. Plan (A) being 'lets walk along coast there and see how close we can get'. That's indeed what we did, alas - we were tantalizingly close, but power station workers and a definite feeling of 'keep out' prevented us from climbing any further. Plan (B) was to approach the security guard and ask permission to access the lighthouse. I gingerly walked up to his booth and politely asked about access to the lighthouse, he looked at me, sternly 'this is private property', my friend piped up 'she's writing a book on Irish Lighthouses, she wants to get closer to take photos for the book (never mind the fact I forgot my camera on this trip!). He picks up a phone 'let me see what I can do'. He explains the situation very matter of factly to someone on the other end. 'You can go, he must be in a good mood today', and he directed our passage through the incredibly ugly buildings to the lighthouse. 'It's gated up now, you wont get to the lighthouse, but you'll get close'. Smiles and words of gratitude directed to him as we set off.

Indeed there was a fence, and of course, we got through it, and walked along the bridge right up to the lighthouse. We stayed for around thirty minutes and made our way back. The security guard (Michael O'Connell) was eager to talk to us on our return, now smiling. He spoke of his work, the power station (which is now British owned and only in use during peak demands), the lighthouse, the wildlife and asked about my blog. I passed on my email and blog address to which he responded 'I'll have my daughter help me look it up'. So if you're reading this Michael, hello, and thank you again! I hope your Sycamore is doing well!