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Baily Lighthouse, Ireland
A longstanding light
The Irish Sea just off of Howth Head in County Dublin has long been notorious for shipwrecks, and a beacon has been planted on this promontory since the 17th century. Charles II commissioned the first one, a simple square tower and coal-fired lamp. The next was built in 1814, a bit farther south and set lower to avoid being obscured by fog. This is the lighthouse that still stands today, though with many improvements added over the years – it's especially notable for being the first in Ireland to use a gas-powered beacon in the mid-19th century, and the last in the country to be automated, in 1996.
A longstanding light
The Irish Sea just off of Howth Head in County Dublin has long been notorious for shipwrecks, and a beacon has been planted on this promontory since the 17th century. Charles II commissioned the first one, a simple square tower and coal-fired lamp. The next was built in 1814, a bit farther south and set lower to avoid being obscured by fog. This is the lighthouse that still stands today, though with many improvements added over the years – it's especially notable for being the first in Ireland to use a gas-powered beacon in the mid-19th century, and the last in the country to be automated, in 1996.
Before automation, this beacon was where all of Ireland's lighthouse keepers did their training.
© Roberto Moiola / Sysaworld / Moment / Getty Images 2026-09-11 08:45:51 :