Clare island now boasts one of the great lighthouses of ireland
A NEW experience to take your breath away. That’s the promise from Great Lighthouses of Ireland, an EU funded tourism initiative which has been launched by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe and the Commissioners of Irish Lights.
Featuring 12 lighthouses in stunning coastal locations, Great Lighthouses of Ireland will offer unforgettable experiences and create a deep appreciation of the role of lighthouses, past and present, and in the maritime and seafaring story of the island of Ireland.
Among the lighthouses involved is Clare Island Lighthouse, which offers guests a truly unique combination of luxury, history and adventure. The lighthouse and its buildings have been restored and transformed into a luxury guesthouse, with accommodation for up to 10 people.
This is the only lighthouse in Ireland that provides B&B accommodation and a six-course dinner, with a communal meal served at a beautiful Georgian table in the atmospheric surrounds of the library.
The area is steeped in stories from the past. The family of legendary pirate queen Grace O’Malley owned Clare Island during the Middle Ages. The ruins of a tower house by the island’s harbour is known locally as Grace O’Malley’s Castle. The remains of an ancient Cistercian Abbey known as St. Brigid’s lie on the southern side of the island. Many of the O’Malley clan are buried there, and according to legend, even Grace herself.
The island also offers a wealth of activities - walking, cycling, fishing, music and crafts.
Roie McCann, who manages the lighthouse, says: “Clare Island Lighthouse has proved a huge success with visitors from home and abroad. We’re delighted to now be collaborating with our coastal cousins via the Great Lighthouses initiative, showcasing the unique attractions of each partner so that even more people can experience and enjoy this island's lighthouse heritage.”
The other 'Great Lighthouses of Ireland’ are St. John’s Point, Co. Donegal; Fanad Head, Co. Donegal; Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre, Co. Antrim; Black Head, Co. Antrim; St. John’s Point, Co. Down; Wicklow Head, Co. Wicklow; Hook, Co. Wexford; Ballycotton, Co. Cork; Galley Head, Co. Cork; Valentia Island, Co. Kerry; and Loop Head, Co. Clare.
The Great Lighthouses of Ireland project is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA cross-border programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUBP). The ambitious and imaginative cross-border project will include the preservation and conservation of the island of Ireland’s important maritime and lighthouse heritage. Great Lighthouses is built on a sustainable economic model and the re-invention of individual lighthouses as visitor attractions and unique self-catering accommodation that can contribute to local communities in terms of visitor spend and tourism employment.