St. John’s Point Lighthouse was designed by George Halpin Senior, one of the most famous civil engineers of the time, the light was first exhibited in 1844. The original lighthouse was painted white. In 1902 three black bands were added. Its current markings of black with two yellow bands have been in place since 1954.
The colour of the light was changed from white to red on 1st July 1860. The tower was originally only 14m tall. It was extended to its current dizzying height of 40m in the 1880s and is now the tallest onshore lighthouse on the Irish coast. (Fastnet is the tallest offshore lighthouse).
The lighthouse was automated in 1981.
St John’s Point has a curious connection to Irish playwright Brendan Behan. Behan’s father was contracted to paint a number of lighthouses across Ireland and enlisted Brendan to paint St John’s Point in 1950. However, Brendan’s efforts were reported to be less than impressive!
St John’s Point is one of the places mentioned in Van Morrison’s song ‘Coney Island’.
The Commissioners of Irish Lights operate 70 lighthouses around the coast of Ireland, all of which continue to provide a vital role in maritime safety today.
The Carnegie Library Bookcase
In the early years of the 20th century, before the coming of radio and television, the lighthouse and lightship keepers lived relatively lonely lives, serving, in many cases, six-week periods of duty at a time. Consequently, in coastal towns, the Carnegie Libraries granted a special concession to the light keepers by providing each station with a well made oak bookcase which was replenished with a change of books on a regular basis. The public library services of the various county councils eventually took over the function of the Carnegie Libraries but the regular supply of books to the light keepers continued well into the second half of the 20th century. Now that all the lighthouses are automated and no longer manned, the fine oak bookcases that remain in the keepers’ dwellings continue to bear silent witness to the great generosity of Andrew Carnegie, philanthropist extraordinaire.
