Ballycotton Lighthouse

Ballycotton Lighthouse
County Cork
Location
Grid reference:	X01146367
Location:	51°49’32"N, 7°59’3"W
Characteristics
Height:	50 feet
Tower shape:	cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Tower marking:	black tower
Light:	Fl WR 10s.
Focal height:	196 feet
Range:	white: 21 nautical miles red: 17 nautical miles
History
	Built 1851
Information
Owned by:	Commissioners of Irish Lights

Ballycotton Lighthouse stands on Ballycotton Island, a small island girt with cliffs about a mile from the village.

The lighthouse was commissioned in 1851, and when it was first built the keeper and his family lived on the island: their children rowed to school, weather permitting. By 1899 the four keepers were housed in the town with keepers rotating duty at the lighthouse.

In 1975 the light was converted to electricity and it was automated on 28 March 1992 when the lighthouse keepers were withdrawn.

Lighthouses of the Commissioners of Irish Lights

County Donegal:  Inishowen • Inishtrahull • Fanad • Dunree • Buncrana • Tory Island • Arranmore • Ballagh Rocks • Rathlin O'Birne • Rotten Island • St John's   County Antrim:  Black Head • Chaine Memorial • The Maidens • Rathlin East • Rue Point • Rathlin West   County Down:  Green Island • Vidal Bank • Haulbowline • St John's Point • Angus Rock • Donaghadee • Mew Island   County Louth:  Dundalk   County Dublin:  Muglins • Poolbeg • Kish Bank • Baily • Howth Head • Rockabill   County Wicklow:  Wicklow Head   County Wexford:  Duncannon • Hook Head • Tuskar Rock   County Waterford:  Mine Head • Ballinacourty Point • Dunmore East   County Cork:  Bull Rock • Ardnakinna • Castletown • Roancarrig • Sheep's Head • Mizen Head • Crookhaven • Copper Point • Fastnet Rock • Baltimore Beacon • Galley Head • Old Head of Kinsale • Charles Fort • Roches Point • Ballycotton • Youghal   County Kerry:  Little Samphire • Inishtearaght • Cromwell Point • Valentia Rear • Valentia Front • Skelligs   County Clare:  Blackhead • Loop Head • Kilcredaun Head • Corlis Point Front • Corlis Point Rear • Scattery Island   County Galway:  Slyne Head • Cashla Bay • Eeragh • Straw Island • Inisheer   County Mayo:  Broadhaven • Eagle Island • Blacksod • Blacksod Bay • Achillbeg • Inishgort County Sligo:  Blackrock • Lower Rosses Point • Metal Man • Oyster Island

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Ballycotton Lighthouse)

References

• Rowlett, Russ: Lighthouses of Southwestern Ireland (Munster) – The Lighthouse Directory (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)