The lighthouse at Holyhead's harbour is the longest in Britain at over 1.7 miles long. Built in 1873, it is one of the best known landmarks in Holyhead. It flashes a beacon of green light which is visible for 14 nautical miles. The other interesting thing about this lighthouse is that it is square, not round? The reason is that when the lighthouse housed keepers to man it, they required more space inside and the square design provided that. This lighthouse here actually marks the break wall as it is so long.
An interesting thing we found out about Lighthouses here in the UK is that they are all automated....no one mans them anymore?
Below is the Dublin Port, Poolbeg Lighthouse. Built in 1768 and initially run on candlepower, changing to oil in 1786. What we see now has been this design since 1820.
The break wall that it is built on, the 'Great South Wall' at one time was the world's longest at 4 miles.
Interesting enough,a green lighthouse stands for starboard or right, and red is for port or left....thus when you enter and leave the Dublin Port, you know how to direct your ship?
I'm dyslexic so I still wouldn't have any idea? Good thing we are on the Irish Ferry, and not Angela Tour boat.
Another impressive lighthouse in Holyhead, Wales is the South Stack Lighthouse. It sits on a tiny island that is separated by 30 meters, of very turbulent seas, from the main Holyhead island. Built in 1809, it became automated in 1984.
The storm of the century happened in view of this lighthouse in 1859. Known as the 'Royal Charter Gale' it took the life of more than 800 lives, and 200 vessels.
Today this lighthouse can be visited but only during April-October. Looking at the bridge across the sea, at this time of year, looks a wee bit daunting to me.
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