Rotten Island lighthouse, Killybegs Harbour, County Donegal. What a name to give a lovely quiet island -there’s nothing rotten about it! It is a harbour light that guides passage from nearby St Johns Point to Killybegs Harbour.
Once again, the lighthouse and dwellings were designed by George Halpin (prominent lighthouse engineer) who also designed nearby St Johns Point lighthouse (30 minute drive away and handy wild camping spot) it was established in 1838. Built with cut granite, it was painted white on completion. Tragically, three workers drowned during construction when their boat capsized returning to the mainland. I’ve heard it was common for fisherman to not be able to swim, allowing the inevitable to happen sooner rather than later should they end up in the water. I wonder was it a similar case for those working on lighthouse construction.
Lighthouse keepers were withdrawn from the station in 1959. The light itself underwent several changes, but only considered an adequate light when it was converted to electric in 1963.
Like most other small-island stations around with no one living on them, it has an attendant on the mainland. It’s a lovely walk along the cliffs, accessed via a small rocky beach.
