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2010 Irish Lights Calendar October 19 2009 The 2010 Irish Lights calendar is now available. This calendar features photographs commemorating the various branches of the Lighthouse Service over the past 200 years. Draft Marine AtoN Strategy - 2025 and Beyond October 14 2009 2025 and Beyond is the United Kingdom and Ireland's marine aids to navigation (AtoN) strategy. It has been prepared by the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) of Trinity House, Northern Lighthouse Board and Irish Lights for their users, partners and stakeholders. New Mizen Bridge! October 02 2009 Welcome boost for Mizen Head Tourism! A contract for the construction of a new bridge to the Mizen Head Lighthouse has been signed and work will start right away with the new bridge ready for next summer's tourist season. Minister Dempsey announces that the Light Dues rate from 1st August 2009 to 31st March 2010, has been increased from 52 to 57 cents August 06 2009 Minister Dempsey announces that the Light Dues rate from 1st August 2009 to 31st March 2010, has been increased from 52 to 57 cents per ton and the maximum number of voyages to be levied has been increased from 7 to 9 in any one year. The tonnage cap remains at 35,000 NRT. Please click here to see SI 297 of 2009 - MERCHANT SHIPPING (LIGHT DUES) ORDER 2009 | |
                   
| Blackhead, Co. Antrim
History: Photo copyright - Philip Plisson.
Blackhead Antrim Lighthouse marks the northern extremity of Belfast Lough. This octagonal tower was designed by William Douglass, Engineer to the Commissioners of Irish Lights. It was completed in 1902 and was painted red. An explosive fog signal was established at the same time as the light. On the 20th August 1929 the colour of the tower was changed to white. From September 1965, the explosive fog signal was accompanied by a brilliant flash of light when sounding during the hours of darkness. On 23rd September 1965 Blackhead Antrim Lighthouse was converted to electric and the intensity of the light was increased giving a range of 27 nautical miles. At the same time the duration of the flash was decreased to 0.15 seconds, the character being Fl W 3 secs (fl 0.15, ec 2.85). The lantern equipment is a 920mm catadioptric annular lens with a PRB22 gearless drive and MBI 400W lamps in a UVLA lampchanger. The fog-signal was discontinued in February 1972. On the 31st July 1975 the Lightkeepers were withdrawn from the Station and since then it has been in the care of a part-time Attendant. On the 1st April 1992 the Radiobeacon Calibration service at Mew Island was discontinued and moved to Blackhead Antrim. In more recent times utilisation of radio direction finders by Mariners has been to a great extent superceded by more modern technology. For this reason the Commissioners discontinued their Medium Frequency Radiobeacon service on 1st February 1999. |
