Haulbowline Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse, described as an elegant tapering stone tower. It stands at the entrance to Carlingford Lough, near Cranfield point in Co, Down, Northern Ireland. It takes its name from the rocky bank on which it stands - a Norse name meaning ‘haunt of the eels’. It was designed by George Haplin to replace the 1803 Cranfield Point lighthouse, as local merchants argued that it had been in the wrong place - it could not be seen by ships and did not effectively mark dangerous rocks at the mouth of Carlingford lough.
George Halpin was the Inspector of Lighthouses and he directed the building works by workmen of the Board. With an overall height of 34m building this tower on a semi-submerged rock with fast currents running around it was a remarkable achievement at the time. The lighthouse cost £28,242 to build which equates to over £300 million today!
The stone used in the build is ashlar granite and the tower has a’ bell-mouth splay’ at the bottom as the base of the tower is wave-washed and so this reduces the impact of wave action. There is a landing stage at the base of the landward side and a vertical ladder leading to a balcony with two wooden doors into the lighthouse.
The tower has eight floors, each one a single room, with different functions - including a kitchen, a bedroom with four bunk beds, two lantern rooms, one for the main lamp and one for a half-tide light. The main light was concentrated into a beam by a powerful bulls-eye lens.
The tower was initially painted white until 1946 when it was changed to its natural stone colour.
Communication with the shore initially was by Morse lamp and semaphore and a bell was
struck by a machine every thirty seconds during foggy weather. This was changed to an explosive fog signal every 5 minutes in 1898. The light was converted to electric in 1965, so that the Haulbowline Lighthouse was the first Irish major offshore lighthouse to be fully automated and monitored remotely from land. In 1990 the lighthouse was completely re-equipped. The turning light was discontinued in 2008 and the fog signal was permanently stopped in 2009. In 2011 the light’s range was reduced to 10 nautical miles and during hours of darkness only. Haulbowline is still active today guiding ships into the mouth of Carlingford Lough.
While taking the ferry from Greencastle to Greenore to visit the beautiful town of Carlingford, I saw Haulbowline Lighthouse up close for the first time. Inspired by its beauty, set against the backdrop of the Mourne mountains, I created a piece of jewellery that blends traditional and modern techniques.
This piece can be viewed on my website here and can be purchased at the fabulous Craft Ni Gallery in Belfast or on their website here.
If you would like to take a look at the lighthouse up close, cruises are available in summer 2024.
Also, check out Newry Maritime Association https://www.facebook.com/newrymaritimeassociation who have launched their Haulbowline Lighthouse Bicentennial Project with ‘The Light of the Lough Cruise’ on the Waverley Paddle Steamer and are organising a small program of events in the weeks leading up to the illumination of the lighthouse on Friday, August 2. Details will be shared on their social media and in the local press. Activities will also include a photography exhibition showcasing Haulbowline Lighthouse and the Carlingford Lough area from June – August in venues from Kilkeel to Greenore.
If you would like to see more from Jackie McMaster Jewellery, visit my website here
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