Letters to the Editor
Farewell to Galley Head
Yes, I will shortly be saying goodbye to my long standing companion--my dear old Lady who has kept a watchful eye on me for the past 34 years. Of course I will miss her and I know she will miss me. Who will polish her lovely face and shine all her brasses, and sit and talk to her and call the Doc when she is not feeling well--will there be anyone there to answer when she rings the bell?
When I hug and kiss her I can taste her salty tears as they mingle with mine streaming down the panes of glass. Who will mind me and keep me company all the dark winter nights, no one to shed a light on my pathway or throw a reassuring beam into my bedroom?
However, I will continue to follow her progress and visit her occasionally; and when I am passing close to her in my yacht I will throw kisses to her and she will acknowledge my wave with six flashes instead of five every 20 seconds. I know she will outlive me by decades but I hope someone will put a little model of her on my grave, and I will feel her closeness and somehow hope she will still keep watching over me.
Pauline Butler
Editor's Note: Pauline Butler has lived at Galley Head Lighthouse since 1965 when her late husband Larry was appointed Assistant Keeper there. She subsequently served as Female Assistant Keeper from 1968 to 1979 and as Attendant from 1992 until her retirement in 1997. Since then she has continued to live at Galley Head Lighthouse while arranging alternative accommodation.
Yes, I will shortly be saying goodbye to my long standing companion--my dear old Lady who has kept a watchful eye on me for the past 34 years. Of course I will miss her and I know she will miss me. Who will polish her lovely face and shine all her brasses, and sit and talk to her and call the Doc when she is not feeling well--will there be anyone there to answer when she rings the bell?
When I hug and kiss her I can taste her salty tears as they mingle with mine streaming down the panes of glass. Who will mind me and keep me company all the dark winter nights, no one to shed a light on my pathway or throw a reassuring beam into my bedroom?
However, I will continue to follow her progress and visit her occasionally; and when I am passing close to her in my yacht I will throw kisses to her and she will acknowledge my wave with six flashes instead of five every 20 seconds. I know she will outlive me by decades but I hope someone will put a little model of her on my grave, and I will feel her closeness and somehow hope she will still keep watching over me.
Pauline Butler
Editor's Note: Pauline Butler has lived at Galley Head Lighthouse since 1965 when her late husband Larry was appointed Assistant Keeper there. She subsequently served as Female Assistant Keeper from 1968 to 1979 and as Attendant from 1992 until her retirement in 1997. Since then she has continued to live at Galley Head Lighthouse while arranging alternative accommodation.
Oh, the fairy tales of Ireland!
The scene--Bullock Harbour, July 1997. While I was enquiring from a boat owner about hiring a boat with engine for a few hours fishing, another longshoreman took my grandson Graham, aged 13, aside. He had apparently recognised Graham's Canadian accent and decided 'Here is another visitor; I'll point out the interesting landmarks'.
Included in his discourse was a lengthy description of the unique Kish Lighthouse. 'When it is very stormy' he said 'the lighthouse can be lowered in height--the top portion can slide downwards inside the outer walls'.
Later Graham asked me 'What use is the lighthouse to ships in stormy weather, if the actual lantern is lowered whenever a gale is blowing?'
I wonder how many other visitors from foreign shores have been regaled with this bit of misinformation.
Arthur Allshire
The scene--Bullock Harbour, July 1997. While I was enquiring from a boat owner about hiring a boat with engine for a few hours fishing, another longshoreman took my grandson Graham, aged 13, aside. He had apparently recognised Graham's Canadian accent and decided 'Here is another visitor; I'll point out the interesting landmarks'.
Included in his discourse was a lengthy description of the unique Kish Lighthouse. 'When it is very stormy' he said 'the lighthouse can be lowered in height--the top portion can slide downwards inside the outer walls'.
Later Graham asked me 'What use is the lighthouse to ships in stormy weather, if the actual lantern is lowered whenever a gale is blowing?'
I wonder how many other visitors from foreign shores have been regaled with this bit of misinformation.
Arthur Allshire
Isolda sinking recalled
Recently a friend sent me some copies of Beam, which were of great interest to me. I should be most grateful if my name could be included in your mailing list.
My father, Richard Best, served with the Commissioners of Irish Lights on the Alexandra, old Ierne, old Isolda, Discovery II (which was chartered after the sinking of the Isolda) and old Granuaile. He was Second Engineer on the Isolda when she was sunk off the Wexford coast.
He was badly injured as he returned to the engine room after the first bomb to stop the engines when one of the lifeboats was in danger of drifting onto the propeller. When he came back on deck a second stick of bombs hit the ship and he was left almost unconscious on the deck. His life was saved by Capt. Thornton, then Chief Officer, who threw him overboard into the icy sea--it was 19th December 1940. He was in hospital for many months having pieces of shrapnel and splinters of wood from the deck removed. Indeed he went to his grave with a piece of shrapnel still lodged in his shoulder.
In Beam Volume 26 I see a photo of your Commander, Capt. George Ball. I feel sure he must be the son of Capt. Henry Ball with whom my father sailed, he bears such a resemblance. I remember the day Capt. Henry's son was born. There was some wetting the baby's head in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire.
Last year on EC Ecology Day, 13th September (my 74th birthday) I managed to climb to the top of St John's Point Lighthouse, with my daughter Louise. There I met John Noel and Margaret Crowley and Jim Blaney, who feature in Volume 26. We had a lot to talk about!
M. Templeton
Recently a friend sent me some copies of Beam, which were of great interest to me. I should be most grateful if my name could be included in your mailing list.
My father, Richard Best, served with the Commissioners of Irish Lights on the Alexandra, old Ierne, old Isolda, Discovery II (which was chartered after the sinking of the Isolda) and old Granuaile. He was Second Engineer on the Isolda when she was sunk off the Wexford coast.
He was badly injured as he returned to the engine room after the first bomb to stop the engines when one of the lifeboats was in danger of drifting onto the propeller. When he came back on deck a second stick of bombs hit the ship and he was left almost unconscious on the deck. His life was saved by Capt. Thornton, then Chief Officer, who threw him overboard into the icy sea--it was 19th December 1940. He was in hospital for many months having pieces of shrapnel and splinters of wood from the deck removed. Indeed he went to his grave with a piece of shrapnel still lodged in his shoulder.
In Beam Volume 26 I see a photo of your Commander, Capt. George Ball. I feel sure he must be the son of Capt. Henry Ball with whom my father sailed, he bears such a resemblance. I remember the day Capt. Henry's son was born. There was some wetting the baby's head in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire.
Last year on EC Ecology Day, 13th September (my 74th birthday) I managed to climb to the top of St John's Point Lighthouse, with my daughter Louise. There I met John Noel and Margaret Crowley and Jim Blaney, who feature in Volume 26. We had a lot to talk about!
M. Templeton
Good Friday Agreement
The referenda to ratify the Good Friday Agreement were held on Friday 22nd May 1998.
On behalf of all on board Granuaile, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chairman, Chief Executive, and Inspector and Marine Superintendent for making special arrangements to facilitate the duty crew in voting in the referenda.
There can be no doubt of the historical importance of this Agreement.
The Commissioners' decision to make these arrangements deserves public commendation.
Robert McCabe
Commander ILTGranuaile
The referenda to ratify the Good Friday Agreement were held on Friday 22nd May 1998.
On behalf of all on board Granuaile, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chairman, Chief Executive, and Inspector and Marine Superintendent for making special arrangements to facilitate the duty crew in voting in the referenda.
There can be no doubt of the historical importance of this Agreement.
The Commissioners' decision to make these arrangements deserves public commendation.
Robert McCabe
Commander ILTGranuaile
Kinsale Lighthouse Open Day
On behalf of the Courtmacsherry Lifeboat we wish to express our sincere thanks to you for your kind permission to use the Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse for our major fundraising event on Sunday 26th July. The day was an outstanding success for all concerned. We estimate that approximately 2,000 people visited the lighthouse on the day and, as you can appreciate, this is a very large number to cater for given the confines of the lighthouse itself.
However, the success of the event can be attributed largely to your very able Attendant, Alan Boyers, who was a key member of the organising committee from its initiation. The amount raised on the day was £4,200 which is a very important contribution to the continued work of the RNLI in saving lives at sea.
We were very pleased also to have Captain Kieran O'Higgins with us on the day.
Jim Crowley, Honorary Secretary,
Courtmacsherry Lifeboat
On behalf of the Courtmacsherry Lifeboat we wish to express our sincere thanks to you for your kind permission to use the Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse for our major fundraising event on Sunday 26th July. The day was an outstanding success for all concerned. We estimate that approximately 2,000 people visited the lighthouse on the day and, as you can appreciate, this is a very large number to cater for given the confines of the lighthouse itself.
However, the success of the event can be attributed largely to your very able Attendant, Alan Boyers, who was a key member of the organising committee from its initiation. The amount raised on the day was £4,200 which is a very important contribution to the continued work of the RNLI in saving lives at sea.
We were very pleased also to have Captain Kieran O'Higgins with us on the day.
Jim Crowley, Honorary Secretary,
Courtmacsherry Lifeboat