Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
get the light working again within an hour. During the same storm, the dwellings of
thelightkeeperswerealsoseverelydamaged,whichmusthavebeentraumatisingasthe
families lived on the island during this time.
Further problems were in store from the waves when severe gales on the 5 and 6
February 1850 caused damage to lanterns of both the east and west towers, causing the
lights to be extinguished. The lights were out for several days, as it was not possible to
send out anyone to effect repairs because of the gales, which did not subside until 11
February.
Eleven years after the damage to both lights, at noon on 11 March 1861, the east
tower was hit by waves which smashed twenty-three panes of glass and swept some of
the lamps down the tower's inner steps. The reflectors were hit by broken glass, dam-
aging them beyond repair, and so much water had hit the lightroom that it had casca-
ded down the inside of the tower and pooled at the bottom of the tower itself. The door
entrance opened inwards into the tower but the lightkeepers were unable to open it be-
cause of the weight of water behind. They had to drill holes in the door to allow the
water to escape before they could open it and gain access to see the extent of the dam-
age. It was not until the following night that the lightkeepers were able to get the light
working again and even then only with a fewer number of lamps and reflectors. It was
enough, however, for the light to be considered operational and to continue its function
as a guide to vessels in the area. What is sobering about this particular event is that a
wave or waves had travelled 133ft up the cliffs before travelling a further 87ft to the
top of the tower and still contained enough force to create the damage it did, as well as
leaving enough water at the base of the tower - the weight of which must have been at
least a couple of tons - to jam the door entrance.
Bad enough as it was, this damage to the east tower was a portent of what was to
come. On 29 December 1894 a severe storm struck the west coast. Eagle Island was
hit hard, as were other stations on the west coast of Ireland and further north, including
thenorth-westcoastofScotland.ThelighthouseontheFlannanIsleshadnotbeenbuilt
at this stage, but if it had it would undoubtedly have been affected by the storm on 29
December 1894. This time the storm not only smashed panes of glass and put out the
light on the east tower of Eagle Island, but it also severely damaged the protecting sea
wall, as well as causing substantial damage to the lightkeepers' dwellings. The damage
to the accommodation was so bad that the families were forced to seek shelter in the
east tower itself for the duration of the storm. It was not until the following day that
theircompatriotsoverinthewesttowerrealisedtheirplightandwereabletoofferhelp.
Once the storm had subsided, the families were taken ashore and housed at the shore
station in Belmullet.
