Broadhaven Lighthouse

Located at Gubbacashal Point, on the Mullet Peninsula, County Mayo. This lighthouse stands tall (as does the gate!) at 27 metres. The gate, and no entry signage didn't discourage us though - we even managed to haul a tent and provisions over that gate! Where there's a will! 

Broadhaven is a harbour light. It's purpose; to guide vessels from sea, clear of a sunken rock (sounds pretty dangerous in fairness) on the western side of Broadhaven to a safe anchorage. It was originally meant to be a beacon tower, not a fully fledged lighthouse, as the Lighthouse Board didn't want to be spending too much time or money, as usual! However, pressure from the locals, with support from George Halpin (prominent lighthouse builder) saw it transformed from a beacon to a lighthouse, by the erection of a lantern to the original built beacon tower. Of course this all took a long time, and there was a lot of 'putting it on the long finger'. The lighthouse was established in 1855, twelve years after a lighthouse was first requested for Broadhaven. Back then it was displaying its natural stone grey colour. 

The keepers dwellings have sadly fallen into disrepair. Which is such a shame, as it's hard for me to imagine a more tranquil spot. We took shelter in our tent close to the wall, that surrounds the lighthouse grounds. The land here is quite exposed, and blustery! We were happy to have the wall I can tell you. The light shone through the night, and into day break. This lighthouse isn't manned of course - I wouldn't be trespassing otherwise! The lighthouse keepers were withdrawn in 1931. Improvements to the light, and a good coating of white paint were also done at this time. 

One last thing - the MULLET peninsula? Lads, I couldn't stop laughing...

Blacksod Lighthouse

On the southeast corner of the Mullet Peninsula (perhaps the most hilariously named peninsula in Ireland?) in County Mayo on Ireland’s west coast stands Blacksod lighthouse. A short, two storey building with a square tower, which is quite unusual for a lighthouse tower. 

Built in 1865 with locally quarried reddish-grey granite. Over the years, this granite was shipped all over the world. The lighthouse began operating in 1866 to make Blacksod Bay safer for mariners. The structure also served as a post office from 1969-1972, while a new building was being built, becoming (quite possibly) the only Irish-lighthouse-turned-post-office! 

Myself and my brother had been camping at Broadhaven lighthouse the night before, and drove down to Blacksod around 730am after a very, very wet and windy night in the tent! The sun was shining, and to our delight the door to the lighthouse building was open. Not one to miss an opportunity to step inside a lighthouse - I knocked loudly on the open door. Two men came to the door and I very confidently asked if we could come in! They were part of a maintenance team, and one man explained he has family ties to the lighthouse: The Sweeny family. His dad had been a keeper there for many years. They invited us in and took us up the tower and spoke about the history of the lighthouse. We were so grateful, and exhausted I’m not sure I even explained I have a blog. 

Probably the most popular Blacksod lighthouse story, and one that was shared with us that day, is the story of the Blacksod lighthouse keeper that gave the weather forecast, that enabled General Eisenhower to make a decision to land Allied forces in Normandy, France, on D-Day, June 6th 1944. Meteorologists had predicted a week of bad weather for France at the beginning of June. The Germans believed this forecast and Field Marshall Rommel left the front lines in France to visit his family in Germany. The lighthouse keeper at Blacksod lighthouse predicted a mid-week break in the weather and Eisenhower acted on the prediction. This demonstrates the important job lighthouse keepers held at the time in recording accurate weather reports on a daily basis. 

The lighthouse was automated in 1999, and now also serves as a helicopter base for nearby lighthouses Blackrock and Eagle Island.