Eiffel Tower of Moville restored
Restoration work on Moville Light in Lough Foyle was completed
at the beginning of August 2008 by Londonderry Port and Harbour
Commissioners, the local lighthouse authority responsible for this
small lighthouse.
The lighthouse has long been a strong symbolic image for Moville. Many local organisations such as the boat club, GAA, and schools use it in their logo. 'Moville Light is the Eiffel Tower of Moville,' says Harbour Master Bill McCann from Shrove. 'Everybody associates Moville with the lighthouse and there is a sense of pride surrounding it. It also plays a vital role in guiding shipping safely through Lough Foyle.'
Captain McCann says the restoration work was carried out by Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners, and involved replacing the handrail round the outside and the door of the housing on top, as well as refurbishing the housing and painting the cast iron structure. The 19th century pile lighthouse is one of just three of its kind remaining in Ireland. The other two are at Dundalk and Cobh.
Bill McCann's father, retired Captain Charlie McCann, says he remembers when the lighthouse was lit by a paraffin lamp. A Keeper would row out at night, light it and remain overnight in the single-roomed house on top in case the light went out. Since then the lighthouse was converted to gas, and most recently to solar-power.
Moville Lighthouse is a quarter of a mile offshore from the town, is 13 metres high and flashes once every 2.5 seconds with a range of four miles. A red sector covers Moville Bank inshore.
As one of a number of lighthouses on the Lough, responsibility for its operation and maintenance rests with the Harbour Board in Derry, who say they are delighted that this latest restoration work is now complete.
Tim Ryan, Local Aids to Navigation Inspector of the Commissioners of Irish Lights reports that 'the restoration of the Moville Pile Light is a fine example of a local lighthouse authority taking pride in the condition of their local aids to navigation. The Port of Londonderry is proactive in the provision and maintenance of their local lights, regularly scoring highly during Irish Lights statutory inspections
The lighthouse has long been a strong symbolic image for Moville. Many local organisations such as the boat club, GAA, and schools use it in their logo. 'Moville Light is the Eiffel Tower of Moville,' says Harbour Master Bill McCann from Shrove. 'Everybody associates Moville with the lighthouse and there is a sense of pride surrounding it. It also plays a vital role in guiding shipping safely through Lough Foyle.'
Captain McCann says the restoration work was carried out by Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners, and involved replacing the handrail round the outside and the door of the housing on top, as well as refurbishing the housing and painting the cast iron structure. The 19th century pile lighthouse is one of just three of its kind remaining in Ireland. The other two are at Dundalk and Cobh.
Bill McCann's father, retired Captain Charlie McCann, says he remembers when the lighthouse was lit by a paraffin lamp. A Keeper would row out at night, light it and remain overnight in the single-roomed house on top in case the light went out. Since then the lighthouse was converted to gas, and most recently to solar-power.
Moville Lighthouse is a quarter of a mile offshore from the town, is 13 metres high and flashes once every 2.5 seconds with a range of four miles. A red sector covers Moville Bank inshore.
As one of a number of lighthouses on the Lough, responsibility for its operation and maintenance rests with the Harbour Board in Derry, who say they are delighted that this latest restoration work is now complete.
Tim Ryan, Local Aids to Navigation Inspector of the Commissioners of Irish Lights reports that 'the restoration of the Moville Pile Light is a fine example of a local lighthouse authority taking pride in the condition of their local aids to navigation. The Port of Londonderry is proactive in the provision and maintenance of their local lights, regularly scoring highly during Irish Lights statutory inspections