Ballinacourty Point Lighthouse

Located in Ballinacourty, a rural area on the southern coast of Ireland, near Dungarvan, County Waterford. This lighthouse stands guard at the entrance to Dungarvan Harbour. 

The lighthouse was built in 1858 on request of merchants and ship owners to guide ships into Dungarvan Bay. It's short in stature, and well maintained, having obviously been painted bright white recently (it was practically glowing). Interesting side note; I met the official 'lighthouse painter' on another adventure, Junior Murphy. I'm still waiting for his call back about getting me into Fastnet....

When looking at the map, we were put off thinking that the lighthouse was bounded by a pesky golfcourse...which it is. However, there is a road leading from a public road to the lighthouse, and it just so happened that the gate was open! It seems there is someone living in the cottage beside the lighthouse...there was a car parked there and signs of life inside. I was too shy to knock on the door and ask of their connection to the lighthouse...maybe next time! There is a gate (unlocked) that leads to a stone pier out to the sea, that's where the photo below was taken. Nice views from this spot. Driving there is easy, but parking in Dungarvan town and walking along Clonea beach to the lighthouse a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Mine Head Lighthouse

Located in Old Parish, County Waterford. This lighthouse was designed by George Halpin Senior, who was a prominent lighthouse builder of his time (considered the founding father of the Irish lighthouse service). Mine Head lighthouse was established on the 1st June 1851 (same day as Ballycotton lighthouse!), and it's looking pretty good to say it's that old. It is a red standstone structure, painted white with a black band (but you can see that right?) While reading up on the history, it was described as a 'four stage lighthouse'...I can assume this means it has 4 levels, including the top level, which would be the lantern. It is said to be Ireland's highest lighthouse! Not to be confused with tallest, it's all to do with sea level and such... being higher above sea level (88m) than any other lighthouse in Ireland. You'd believe it when you see how steep the cliffs are...

Getting there was quite tricky...I'm lucky I had a navigator accompanying me that could help read the map. The roads are many, and we could have turned wrong a few times. We were a little hesitant, but persisted past a farmhouse for about a mile and reached the lighthouse gate (and a few cows). Yes, there's a gate, a tall one. We climbed over, then on leaving, realised it was actually open....

I like Mine Head in particular because it brings together two of my favourite things...lighthouses and beer! Dungarvan Brewing Company produces Irish craft beers, and have Mine Head as their logo (hence why it's my favourite beer to drink out). They have various varieties including stout, red ale, pale ale and a larger and some others. They have one aptly named 'Mine Head', it's an American pale ale, it's pretty tasty!