Irish Lights holds information event on future plans for St John’s Point reiterating commitment to maintaining lighthouse heritage
The Commissioners of Irish Lights (Irish Lights) held an information event this week to update the local community on its proposal for works at St John’s Point Lighthouse, County. Down.
The works are primarily aimed at improving the reliable and safe operation of the lighthouse as an aid to navigation for the mariner, whilst protecting the significant heritage of St John’s Point Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse on the island of Ireland.
Irish Lights, which has a statutory remit to provide and maintain aids to navigation around the coast of Ireland, north and south, hosted an information event in the Burrendale Hotel, Newcastle this week.
Elected representatives, local residents, community groups, businesses, and other interested parties were invited to meet the project team and hear more about the proposed works at the lighthouse.
Irish Lights owns and manages the lighthouse and adjacent buildings at St John’s Point, Killough, Co. Down.
It marks the approaches to the North Channel in the North Irish Sea along with key hazards to navigation in Dundrum Bay. The site comprises a large compound including 4 dwellings, the lighthouse tower, and other ancillary buildings.
The proposed works include the replacement of the existing high energy lamp with a LED Light source and retaining the operation of the rotating Fresnel lens with a mechanical bearing.
This will ensure that the historic lens continues to provide the same unique flash character of the light, while allowing the removal of mercury. The operation of the diesel generator will be replaced with battery back-up system.
Similar projects have been completed at Tory Island, Rathlin West and Rathlin East Lighthouses and the project will utilise an innovative bearing system and light technology based on extensive research.
Clodagh Hanratty, Director of Coastal Operations, Irish Lights said: “Irish Lights is committed to engaging with the local community to ensure they are well-informed of our plans.
“This information event provided an opportunity for those interested to come and meet the team and learn more about the project.
“The proposals outlined demonstrate a clear commitment to protecting the heritage of St John’s Point, while enhancing the lighthouse’s reliability and effectiveness as an aid to navigation.
“Extensive research and pilot projects have been undertaken to safeguard the heritage and to plan for future development of the site as a tourism destination.
“The key electrical and mechanical elements of the installation at St John’s Point, with a design life of 20 years, are now 23 years old and capital funding has been secured to invest in the renewal of the equipment to ensure the lighthouse installation continues to provide a reliable Aid to Navigation for the mariner.”
Irish Lights will be submitting a Listed Building Application to Newry Mourne and Down District Council. The application will be advertised by the Council, and third parties will have the opportunity to review the application and make third party submissions during this process.
About The Commissioners of Irish Lights
The mission of Irish Lights is Safe Navigation at Sea.
They are a maritime organisation delivering essential 24/7 safety and navigation services around the coast of Ireland (North and South), 365 days a year. Their vision is to protect lives, property, trade and the environment by delivering next generation maritime services at the interface of navigation technology, engineering and data management. Playing a lead role in maritime safety, Irish Lights operates a 24-hour emergency response function.
Irish Lights is responsible for Maritime Aids to Navigation under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.
This remit includes the provision and maintenance of over 340 general aids to navigation, the superintendence of approx. 3,500 local aids to navigation, and marking or removing dangerous wrecks outside harbour areas around Ireland.
Irish Lights also provides a range of navigation and contract commercial services including ship charter, buoy and maritime data. They provide value added services to support the development of the broader maritime economy including Met and Coastal Data Services.
The Irish Lights tourism and heritage initiative, ‘Great Lighthouses of Ireland‘ was developed in partnership with local communities and offers visitors from home and abroad the chance to visit or stay in a working lighthouse.
W: www.irishlights.ie T: @irishlights FB: https://www.facebook.com/commissionersofirishlights/
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