Centenary of lighting of Fastnet Rock Lighthouse
Celebrations at Mizen Head
by Sue Hill
Mizen Head Fog Signal Station was the focus of celebrations to
mark the centenary of the lighting of Fastnet Lighthouse on 27 June
2004. Among those from Irish Lights who attended were Captain
Kieran O'Higgins, Eoghan Lehane, Stephen O'Sullivan (Manager, Mizen
Head Signal Station visitor centre), Dick O'Driscoll, Jim Power,
Geoff McCarthy, Mick Tevlin, Paddy Coughlan, Michael Kavanagh, Mick
Culligan, Brian O'Regan, Flann Egan, Denis O'Leary, William
Shanahan, John Coughlan, Anthony Burke, John O'Brien, Reggie
Sugrue, John Griffin, and representatives of the Roddy, Byrne,
Walsh, Coughlan, and Hegarty families.
People who telephoned to say they were unable to attend were Joe Stapleton, Dominic Gaughan, Mick Fitzpatrick, Donal Holland, Mrs Vincent Whelan, Mrs Maura Keane, Dick Foran, Donal O'Sullivan, Eugene O'Sullivan, and Jimmy White.
Agnes van Veen, producer of the film Keepers of the Light came from Utrecht. Hundreds of other people made their way to the celebration on a beautiful hot sunny day that was enjoyed by all.
During the afternoon a Commemorative Roll Call of the Keepers of Fastnet Rock Lighthouse (compiled from Irish Lights records) was unveiled. This is now part of the exhibition at Mizen Head Signal Station visitor centre. A replica of the Roll Call, in a mount ready for framing, is available.
Also launched was The Mizen Collection-three DVDs of films and TV programmes which present an informative record of a life which, although just past, seems to belong to a different era. Some of this documentary film would have been lost but for the initiative of those behind the compilation. The Mizen Collection is a wonderful way for the younger generation to learn about the life and work of Irish Lights before automation and for the older generation to reminisce about those hard times.
An exhibition of archive photos of the building of Fastnet Lighthouse (lent by the Commissioners of Irish Lights) was launched by Captain Kieran O'Higgins, who spoke of the arduous life of the Lightkeepers who gave such service and dedication to the task of keeping the coast safe.
Michael Kavanagh, grandson of James Kavanagh, the Foreman in charge of the building of Fastnet Lighthouse, spoke about his family connections and Geoff McCarthy, former Keeper at Fastnet Lighthouse, spoke about the life of the Keepers on the Fastnet.
John Eagle has now completed his marathon undertaking to make a postcard of every lighthouse on the Irish coast. The result is 96 incredible postcards. An exhibition of all the postcards was launched at the celebration and John did brisk trade in postcards and prints. John's full collection is available from www.johneaglephoto.com (prints are also available). John has also donated a full set of the postcards to the National Photographic Archive of the National Library of Ireland.
Another event the same day was the dedication of a plaque on the propeller of ss Irada. ss Irada went down on the rocks north of the Mizen in 1908 while the Mizen bridge was being constructed. The Keepers and builders helped to rescue the crew up the cliffs. The propeller was salvaged, but was too heavy for the boat. It was cut free, sinking 500 yards of Mizen point. West Cork Sub Aqua divers, Michael Barry, Simon and Angela Nelson, and Catherine Arundel, with explosive help from Paddy O'Sullivan and Ray White, Bandon, found the propellor in 1994 and Captain Cormac McGinley and the crew of ILT Granuaile raised it. One blade fell off and returned to the sea, but the divers brought that ashore in 2001. In 2003 Henning Voss (rip), Goleen, attached it to the core. A plaque telling the story of SS Irada was donated and unveiled by Paddy O'Sullivan, who gave an account of the various wrecks around Mizen Head.
Mizen Head Signal Station has had a successful summer with thousands of visitors. Construction of the final phase development has just started. It is scheduled for completion in April 2006 and it is hoped plenty of Irish Lights personnel will be able to join in that celebration.
Sue Hill is Development Officer of Mizen Head Signal Station, Mizen Tourism Co-operative Society Ltd, Goleen, West Cork
People who telephoned to say they were unable to attend were Joe Stapleton, Dominic Gaughan, Mick Fitzpatrick, Donal Holland, Mrs Vincent Whelan, Mrs Maura Keane, Dick Foran, Donal O'Sullivan, Eugene O'Sullivan, and Jimmy White.
Agnes van Veen, producer of the film Keepers of the Light came from Utrecht. Hundreds of other people made their way to the celebration on a beautiful hot sunny day that was enjoyed by all.
During the afternoon a Commemorative Roll Call of the Keepers of Fastnet Rock Lighthouse (compiled from Irish Lights records) was unveiled. This is now part of the exhibition at Mizen Head Signal Station visitor centre. A replica of the Roll Call, in a mount ready for framing, is available.
Also launched was The Mizen Collection-three DVDs of films and TV programmes which present an informative record of a life which, although just past, seems to belong to a different era. Some of this documentary film would have been lost but for the initiative of those behind the compilation. The Mizen Collection is a wonderful way for the younger generation to learn about the life and work of Irish Lights before automation and for the older generation to reminisce about those hard times.
An exhibition of archive photos of the building of Fastnet Lighthouse (lent by the Commissioners of Irish Lights) was launched by Captain Kieran O'Higgins, who spoke of the arduous life of the Lightkeepers who gave such service and dedication to the task of keeping the coast safe.
Michael Kavanagh, grandson of James Kavanagh, the Foreman in charge of the building of Fastnet Lighthouse, spoke about his family connections and Geoff McCarthy, former Keeper at Fastnet Lighthouse, spoke about the life of the Keepers on the Fastnet.
John Eagle has now completed his marathon undertaking to make a postcard of every lighthouse on the Irish coast. The result is 96 incredible postcards. An exhibition of all the postcards was launched at the celebration and John did brisk trade in postcards and prints. John's full collection is available from www.johneaglephoto.com (prints are also available). John has also donated a full set of the postcards to the National Photographic Archive of the National Library of Ireland.
Another event the same day was the dedication of a plaque on the propeller of ss Irada. ss Irada went down on the rocks north of the Mizen in 1908 while the Mizen bridge was being constructed. The Keepers and builders helped to rescue the crew up the cliffs. The propeller was salvaged, but was too heavy for the boat. It was cut free, sinking 500 yards of Mizen point. West Cork Sub Aqua divers, Michael Barry, Simon and Angela Nelson, and Catherine Arundel, with explosive help from Paddy O'Sullivan and Ray White, Bandon, found the propellor in 1994 and Captain Cormac McGinley and the crew of ILT Granuaile raised it. One blade fell off and returned to the sea, but the divers brought that ashore in 2001. In 2003 Henning Voss (rip), Goleen, attached it to the core. A plaque telling the story of SS Irada was donated and unveiled by Paddy O'Sullivan, who gave an account of the various wrecks around Mizen Head.
Mizen Head Signal Station has had a successful summer with thousands of visitors. Construction of the final phase development has just started. It is scheduled for completion in April 2006 and it is hoped plenty of Irish Lights personnel will be able to join in that celebration.
Sue Hill is Development Officer of Mizen Head Signal Station, Mizen Tourism Co-operative Society Ltd, Goleen, West Cork