Year first lit 1864 Opened 1864 Province Connacht | Height 12 m Focal height 13 m Year first constructed 1864 | |
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Location Blacksod, Mullet Peninsula, Erris, County Mayo, Ireland Construction local granite blocks tower Tower shape tower rising from a 2-story keeper's house Markings / pattern unpainted house, white lantern Range white: 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi)
red: 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) Similar Eagle Island - County M, Rotten Island lighthouse, Haulbowline Lighthouse, The Maidens lighthouses, Donaghadee lighthouse | ||
Blacksod Lighthouse (Gaelic: Fód Dubh) is situated at the southern end of the Mullet Peninsula, Erris, County Mayo. The lighthouse was built in 1864 by one of the leading merchants in Belmullet at that time, Bryan Carey.
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Map of Blacksod Lighthouse, Fallmore, Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland
The lighthouse is made of local granite blocks which are believed to have come from close by Termon Hill which is an isolated granite outcrop of high quality granite on the peninsula. The keeper's house is a two storey square building, which has always been unpainted. It is occupied by a resident lighthousekeeper who is also responsible for Blackrock lighthouse - see below. The house at Blacksod was badly damaged by a rogue wave in 1989 but has since been repaired and is still occupied.
Blacksod is of unusual design for a lighthouse, being a square block of a building with only a small conical lantern section on top of it which is painted white. Although it is easily accessible as it is beside Blacksod Pier, it is not open to the general public.
Blackrock Lighthouse
The lighthouse at Blackrock was also built in 1864. It sits on a high rocky island, 12 miles west of Blacksod and is accessible only by helicopter. Black Rock is favoured by sea anglers as it has a large variety of fish in its environs but it is a dangerous place for boats to stay too long as swells and waves are large. It is a 50 foot high round stone tower with lantern and gallery attached to a single storey keeper's house although there is currently nobody living on Blackrock. The lighthouse is painted white. It is one of Ireland's most remote lighthouses. In 1999 the light was converted to solar powered and one of the keeper's houses was restored to provide accommodation for work crews visiting the island to carry out maintenance on the lantern.