Shine A Light on Summer Festival is taking place from top to toe on the island of Ireland at five of our Great Lighthouses
Shine A Light on Summer Festival is taking place from top to toe on the island of Ireland at fiveour Great Lighthouses – at Fanad Head in the wilds of Donegal, at Hook the world’s oldest working lighthouse in Wexford, at the majestic Loop Head and on the islands of Rathlin in the north and Valentia in the south west.
Be blown away by what you’ll see, experience and discover at each site over the weekend. Meet fascinating lighthouse Storykeepers. Enjoy their tales of maritime marvels and nature’s wonder, of heroic feats and the lightkeeping life.
Teach Solais Fhánada (Fanad Head Lighthouse)
Perched on the windswept eastern edge of County Donegal’s Fanad Peninsula and voted one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world, at Teach Solais Fhánada visitors can enjoy a lively day of events inspired by maritime life and the relationship between the lighthouse and the local community.
On Saturday 5th May, enjoy exciting comhrá, ceol agus damhsa with the Fanad Gaeltacht community, experience a guided coastal walk of the area from Ballywhoriskey to Baile Thiernáin and of course take a tour of the lighthouse tower to embrace that breathtaking view. There’s also plenty of opportunity to learn something new with craft workshops for adults and children such as basket and hemp rope making, astrology talks and even seaweed cookery demonstrations and tastings too.
Valentia Island Lighthouse
In County Kerry, there’s plenty happening on Valentia Island area to celebrate the historic lighthouse at Cromwell Point. Here you can celebrate life under the infamous dark skies and hear tales of war and conquest long before Star Wars!
On Sunday 6th May visitors can enjoy a sea synergy workshop and learn all about life beneath the lighthouse, while the RNLI life boat and sea rescue helicopter will be performing manoeuvres around the lighthouse for all to see. After all the fun, you can indulge in the barbecue and enjoy some live trad music too.
Loop Head Lighthouse
Standing firm on Loop Head Peninsula in County Clare for many centuries, this May Bank Holiday the iconic west coast lighthouse will host plenty of fantastic fun. Enjoy family activities, lighthouse tours, live music all weekend and a local food and craft showcase, in an area of stunning scenery, this is a great chance to learn all about the area’s marine heritage too.
Hook Lighthouse
In beautiful County Wexford, Hook Lighthouse, the world’s oldest, intact working lighthouse which was recently voted Ireland’s Hidden Gem 2018 by Independent readers, will be celebrating all things nautical.
On Saturday 5th May kick off the family fun by joining 500 walkers in a local fundraiser to Hike to the Hook. Pirate fun, music and circus style attractions will also take place throughout the day. The coastguard and RNLI will be on-site too, if you’re looking to learn more about safety at sea and maritime life.
Sunday 6th May will see fascinating talks at the on-site marquee, cookery demonstrations and for the truly daring, Medieval combat school and games courtesy of Montague Heritage Services.
On Monday 7th May visitors can enjoy more captivating marquee talks, Medieval demonstrations and pirate fun, as well as a nature walk led by renowned naturalist Jim Hurley. Round it all off with a tasty barbecue, arts and crafts and some games on the lawn too.
Source: Tourism Ireland
