Mizen Head
Ireland's most Southwesterly Point
History
In 1847 when a 1034 tons American liner, SS Stephen Whitney,
sank off Crookhaven with a loss of 92 lives, the Irish Lights
Board decided to build a lighthouse on the Fastnet or Fastness
Rock as the existing Cape Clear Island Lighthouse, the marker
for the Cape and Fastnet Rock, was too far inland. The original
Fastnet Lighthouse was used from 1854 to 1891, but the tower was
not sturdy enough to with strand the power of the sea. A new
tower was built between 1899-1903 at a cost of 84,000 pounds. This is
a magnificent engineering feat topped by a powerful biform oil
light with Fresnel lenses which can be seen for 19 miles. It is
in the unique position of being the first landfall after
America.
In 1906 the
Board of Trade together with the Irish Lights Board decided to
build a Fog Signal Station on Cloghane Island, Mizen Head. In
1909 the fog signal was established and in bad visual conditiond
the Keepers manually set off a charge of explosive at three
minute intervals.
The Arched Bridge was built between 1908 , 1910 to connect the
island to the mainland. The design was chosen from many that
were entered in a competition. It is 172' across and 150' above
sea level. An early example of reinforced concrete, it is made
from the local hard stone. Even the aggregate used was crushed
on site from the same rock.
In 1931 a wireless beacon was installed at Mizen and in 1959 a
light was placed on the rocks at the end of the head at a height
of 180' with a range of 13 miles in clear weather. The fog
signal was discontinued in the 1970s when sonar and satellite
navigation (GPS) took over. Mizen head Signal Station has
participated in the whole history of radio communications up to
the DGPS mast on the site today.
In 1993 Mizen Head Fog Signal Station was automated and demanded
by the Commissioners of Irish Lights. The automation coincided
with the first LEADER programme of EU funding for rural
development. In 1993, with a lease from the Irish Lights and
funding from Leader, the local community in Goleen Parish
registered a co-operative to develop a visitor attraction at
Ireland's most southwesterly point. Murphy's Irish Stout, West
Cork Bottling, Cork County Council, Ford (Ireland) Ltd. all
contributed to the matching funding. The core of the funding
came from the shareholders in the co-operative society. Shares
are sold at 35 euro and at present there are over 600
shareholders, local and international. In April 1993 the last
Light keepers left the Mizen and the facility was opened to the
public in June 1994.
In 2001 Phase 2 of the project was completed with the opening of
a new visitor facility near the car park to replace a portacabin!
Now gales, rain and fog cannot close the centre with exhibits, a
cafe and shop undercover for our visitors in all weather.
Presently nearly 50,000 visitors a year make their way to Mizen
Head Visitor Centre
In 2002 the Committee of Management has applied for funding for
Phase 3 which will include an observation tower, research area,
seminar/classroom, environmental gallery, displays in the
Transmission Hut, revamp of the existing displays in the Signal
Station. Work will start in 2005 for completion in 2006 when
Mizen Head Visitor Centre should be ready to accept 100,000
visitors a year. The fundraising has started! Shares are
available at 32 euro each , email for a share form
shares@mizenhead.net
The Committee of Management
Dr. Brian O'Connell, Chairman
Willie Buckley, Treasurer
Stephen O'Sullivan, Secretary
Michael McCarthy
Sue Hill, Development Officer
suehill@eircom.net
Maureen Newman
Michael Barnett
John Stuart
Dermot Sheehan
The Staff
Stephen O'Sullivan, Manager, was a former lightkeeper so he has
firsthand knowledge of life in a lighthouse. His family has been
involved with lightkeeping for many generations
Noreen Hurley, Ticket Office and Shop, farms with her husband on
the other side of Mizen Peak when she is not at work in the
Mizen
Jean Collins, Ticket Office and Shop, has recently returned to
Goleen to live at home after a busy career in Cork City.
Tour Guides
Every year Mizen Tourism employs local young people to act as
guides to our visitors. The tour guiding jobs have proved
invaluable training and experience for them as they go out into
the wider world. There are 9 guides this year.
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