Inishtrahull Lighthouse
Inishtrahull Lighthouse has a focal height of 59 metres, a tower height of 23 metres and a range of 19 nautical miles. It was built in 1812.
- Focal height
- 59 metres
- Tower height
- 23 metres
- Range
- 19 nautical miles
- Built
- 1812
- First lit
- 1958
- Automated
- 1987
- Light characteristic
- Fl (3) W 15s
- Coordinates
- 55.431, -7.244
Inishtrahull Lighthouse is a prominent landmark located on Inishtrahull Island off the north coast of Ireland. The lighthouse was first built in 1813 and was designed by George Halpin, a Senior Inspector of Lighthouses. The original tower stood at 12.8 meters tall, but it was later replaced in 1958 with a new lighthouse that stands at 23 meters tall, featuring a cylindrical tower with a balcony and lantern.
The lighthouse serves as a vital navigation aid for shipping, particularly for vessels rounding the north coast of Ireland and navigating through Lough Foyle. Its unique location, combined with the nearby lighthouse on Tory Island, makes it a crucial landmark for mariners. The lighthouse has undergone several upgrades, including the installation of a dioptric apparatus in 1864 and the replacement of the optic in 1987 to comply with international automation recommendations.
Today, the lighthouse is unmanned and powered by solar energy, which was introduced in 2000. The fog signal was discontinued in 1987, and the station was automated, making it a self-sustaining beacon for mariners navigating the treacherous waters off the north coast of Ireland.
Light and tower
It lies on the North Atlantic. It has a cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern tower. The tower is built of concrete. Its daymark is white tower. The light has a focal height of 59 metres. The light has a range of 19 nautical miles. Its light characteristic is Fl (3) W 15s. It carries a Pharos 350mm lens. It was first lit in 1958. It was automated in 1987.
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Details
- Name
- Inishtrahull (west) Lighthouse
- Marking
- white tower
- Range Nm
- 19
- Lens Type
- Pharos 350mm lens
- Year Built
- 1812/1958
- Description
- '''Inishtrahull Lighthouse''' is the northerly most lighthouse in Ireland located on the Inishtrahull Island off the coast of County Donegal. Coupled with the lighthouse on Tory Island they form the two main landfall lights for shipping from the Atlantic rounding the north coast of Ireland, and navigation to local shipping. Work on the first lighthouse, situated at the east end of the island began in 1812, primarily due to Royal Navy ships using Lough Foyle.
- Tower Shape
- cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
- Body Of Water
- North Atlantic
- Image Caption
- Distant view of the lighthouse
- Location Text
- Donegal
- Focal Height M
- 59
- Tower Height M
- 23
- Year Automated
- 1987
- Year First Lit
- 1958
- Light Characteristic
- Fl (3) W 15s
- Construction Material
- concrete tower