Michael O'Neill, Chairman of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, speaking at the Baily automation ceremony. Behind him are (L-R) Capt. Shay Hickey, Inspector & Marine Superintendent; Mel Boyd, Chief Executive; Denis O'Leary, Assistant Keeper; Eugene O'Sullivan, Principal Keeper; Gerry McCurdy, Assistant Keeper; and Anthony Burke, Principal Keeper.

PRESENTING the Commissioners of Irish Lights' flag to Principal Keeper Eugene O'Sullivan, Mr O'Neill said-

'TODAY the final chapter for Lightkeepers is being written. The ten year automation plan for the Irish Lighthouse Service is concluded with the automation of the Baily and the withdrawal of the Keepers. It is fitting that the Baily is the last station to be automated as so many of the Keepers began their service here in this Lighthouse.

'Many occasions are described as historic, but in our Lighthouse Service surely today of all days can be described as such. It is a sad day, hardly a day for celebration, more a day for reflection and remembrance of a way of life that is past. It is a day of dedication to remarkable men who's job description has defied description.

'Tucks Tweedy, former Principal Keeper and now Attendant at Hook Head, gave a fine account in Beam 1995-6 entitled From Dubhan to Datac. Saint Dubhan and his followers came to Hook Head from Wales in 452 AD and lit the first warning fires on this island to warn sailors of the perils of those dangerous rocks.

'The legal basis for the operations of the Commissioners of Irish Lights dates from an Act passed by the Irish Parliament in 1786. Since that date, the Service developed rapidly, with the provision and manning of a network of inter-linking Lighthouses and Lightships around the entire coast of Ireland.

'Thirty years ago there were nearly 200 Lightkeepers and over 100 Lightshipmen directly employed guarding our coasts and warning mariners of the dangers. Their dedication and loyalty, and the loyalty of their wives and families, in keeping the light has in itself been a beacon of dedicated service and sacred duty.

'There have been many cases where courage and bravery have been rewarded by commendation or awarding of medals. In this way, we are similar to our sister service, the Lifeboat Institution, who are in the same business as ourselves, that is, the protection and the saving of lives at sea. Yet the medals and commendations awarded do not take into account the countless other unrecorded instances through the ages where men performed acts of outstanding bravery for their fellow men, and merely regarded it as their duty.

'This flag is lowered today as a reminder to us all of the march of technology. We cannot stand in the way of progress-indeed the automation of our Lighthouses proves this-but the loss of the Lightkeepers is most keenly felt. An era of great personal dedication to the safety of the mariner around our island has come to an end today, after almost 1500 years.

'However, I would like to stress that the input of Keepers continues in Irish Lights, albeit in a different form. Many ex-Keepers are employed as Attendants at our lighthouses and helipads around the coast. Indeed the new Attendant for Baily is Mr Brendan Carty, who is himself an ex-Keeper. I welcome Mr Carty's return to the Service.

'It is fitting that the last Principal Keeper on duty in our Service is Mr Eugene O'Sullivan. Mr O'Sullivan is a fourth generation Lightkeeper. Eugene's father was Danny O'Sullivan, better known to the world as a naturalist, writer and poet than a Lightkeeper. His grandfather was lost from the Bull Rock in 1917. His great-grandfather was the first in his family to join the Lighthouse Service. If anyone represents the generations of Lightkeepers and Lightkeeping families it is surely Eugene.

'I present this flag to him today on behalf of mariners through the ages who have had cause to be thankful for the contribution of Lightkeepers and Lightshipmen through the centuries. I wish him and his fellow Keepers well and thank them all most sincerely on behalf of the Commissioners of Irish Lights.'