Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
The severe damage to the lightkeepers' accommodation (plus damage caused to the
tower itself by earlier storms) at the east tower forced a rethink by the Irish Lighthouse
Commissionersaboutthefutureofthestation.MrDouglas,theCommissioners'Engin-
eer,inspectedbothstationsafterthestormandwroteareportinwhichherecommended
thattheeaststationshouldbeabandoned.Concurrentlywithhisrecommendationabout
abandoning the east station, he also stated that he believed the west station should be
improved. In the meantime it was agreed that the fixed light apparatus which had been
removedfromtheToryIslandLighthouseshouldbeinstalledinthewesttoweronEagle
Island and that both the west lighthouse and the temporarily repaired east lighthouse
should be kept running for a short period with the lightkeepers being accommodated at
the West Lighthouse Station. This was a temporary solution. On 1 November 1895 a
new dioptric first order light came into operation in the west tower and use of the east
tower was discontinued. The east tower was reduced by 20ft so that it did not create a
shadow for the light from the west tower. The light in the west tower was group occult-
ing (a description of the rhythmic light pattern given by the light), which showed white
towards the open sea and red towards land. Accommodation for the lightkeepers and
theirfamilieswasbuiltatCorcloughontheTermoncarraghRoad,closetoapointwhere
the keepers could signal the station on the island by semaphore. The families were able
to move into the new shore dwellings at the end of 1900.
Despite the improvements to the west station, another severe storm on 25 January
1935 again put the light out of action, although the lightkeepers were able to keep the
fog signal going as some kind of a temporary solution for which they were commen-
ded.
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The shore dwellings were abandoned in 1955 and sold off in 1956 and from 1969 re-
liefs were carried out by helicopter, landing the lightkeepers at Blacksod. This replaced
thelong-established method ofrelief usingacontractor'sboatfromScotchport, 2miles
south of Eagle Island on the Mullet peninsula. Despite the improvements to the west
station, further damage was caused in January 1987 and February 1988. On 31 March
1988, the lightkeepers were withdrawn and the lighthouse became fully automated.
Whilst it certainly would not be correct to say that massive seas had forced the Com-
missionersoftheIrishlighthousesintoabandoningalightstation,duetotheseverityof
thebatterings ithadtaken,ithadcertainly forcedarethinkonhowthetwoEagleIsland
towerscouldbebetterorganisedandrun.Thedamagecausedbythestormon11March
1861 to the east light tower showed that waves were capable of reaching up to a height
of 220ft and causing damage; there was of course a serious risk to anybody hit by the
water at that height. This is strongly worth taking into account when looking at what
possibly happened to Ducat, Marshall and Macarthur. The highest point of Eilean Mor
is only 8ft higher than the top of the east light tower on Eagle Island when it was hit in