 Ballycotton Lighthouse | |
 | |
| Location | Ballycotton Island, County Cork, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°49′33″N 7°59′03″W / 51.825737°N 7.984159°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1848 |
| Construction | granite tower |
| Automated | 1991  |
| Height | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | black tower, red balcony |
| Operator | Commissioners of Irish Lights |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1 June 1851 |
| Focal height | 59 m (194 ft) |
| Lens | catadioptric prism (fixed inner), annular lenses (rotating outer) |
| Range | 21 nmi (39 km; 24 mi) (white), 17 nmi (31 km; 20 mi) (red) |
| Characteristic | Fl WR 10s |
| Ireland no. | CIL-0290 |
Ballycotton Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse positioned on Ballycotton Island, east of Ballycotton, County Cork, on the south coast of Ireland.[1] The lighthouse is maintained by the Commissioners of Irish Lights[2] and is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as "a significant addition to the historical record and maritime heritage of Ireland".[3]
Distinctively, it is one of only a handful of lighthouses in the world painted black, which was chosen to distinguish it from Capel Island's (unlit) beacon.[4][5][6][7] Capel Island is where the lighthouse was initially to be located, but ultimately a decision was made to build it on Ballycotton Island.[8] It is also one of few examples of lighthouses featuring some of the lower panes made of red glass with the consequence that ships approaching too close to land may be warned by an apparent change of colour.[9]
- ^ McCarthy, Kevin (1997). Lighthouses of Ireland. Pineapple Press. ISBN 9781561641314.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
cilwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Ballycotton Lighthouse, BALLYCOTTON ISLAND, CORK". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Dublin, Ireland. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
The survival of this important and attractive grouping of lighthouse and associated lighthouse keeper's structures presents a significant addition to the historical record and maritime heritage of Ireland, particularly relevant since the automation of lighthouses along the Irish coastline has put these complexes at risk.
- ^ Mahon, Tom (12 April 2022). The Ballycotton Job. Mercier Press. ISBN 9781781174449.
one of only three lighthouses in the world painted black; the others being in Texas and Australia.
- ^ Pochin Mould, Daphne (1991). Discovering Cork. Brandon. ISBN 9780863221293.
It is unusual among lighthouses in being painted black
- ^ MacCarthy, Dan (27 August 2018). "Ballycotton - black is the colour". Irish Examiner. Cork.
- ^ Fodor's Essential Ireland 2024. Fodor's. 26 September 2023. ISBN 9781640976290.
one of Ireland's rare black lighthouses
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
sharmawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Findlay, Alexander (1864). A description and list of the lighthouses of the world, 1861. R.H. Laurie. OCLC 1082583569.