70 objections about plans to downgrade lighthouse beam

70 objections about plans to downgrade lighthouse beam

26 February 2025

ALMOST 70 objections have been lodged to date with planners over the controversial plan to downgrade the beam at St John’s Point Lighthouse, near Killough.

The Commissioner of Irish Lights (CIL) is seeking listed building consent to reduce the size of the beam by replacing a 1,000 watt high energy lamp with a 90 watt LED alternative.

In addition, the Dublin-based organisation is seeking the green light to replace a mercury bath — on which the lighthouse’s giant Fresnel lamp rotates — with a rotating ball bearing mechanism.

CIL says Irish Lights and other Lighthouse Authorities are in the process of removing mercury from their lighthouses and from an aid to navigation perspective, there are many alternative light sources available. 

The organisation argues and that from a heritage perspective, Irish Lights has developed a system that will allow retention of the historic lens, while still delivering the required safety and environmental benefits.

A campaign group, which is vehemently opposed to the changes, claims the assertion that the  proposal to remove the mercury bath as it poses a health risk is a “red herring”.

The Lecale Lightkeepers insists there must be no change, a stance which is being supported by local politicians who have been asked to publicly reaffirm their position.

CIL’s planning application was lodged in mid-December and billed as an “engineering upgrade”, insisting the work is necessary with the emphasis on improving the reliable and safe operation of the lighthouse for the mariner. 

CIL claims the existing high energy lamp will soon become unavailable due to energy efficiency regulation changes which will make it impossible to source, with the planned programme of work necessary to ensure the “safe and reliable operation” of an aid to navigation in a sustainable way.

Commissioners also insist the proposed work will retain the rotating Fresnel lens and unique flash character of the light, with the Killough proposal similar to projects which have already been completed at Tory Island, Rathlin West and Rathlin East lighthouses.

The organisation says the Killough project utilises an innovative bearing system and light technology based on extensive research.

Listed building consent is being sought to reduce the range of the beam down to 18 miles, retain the existing auxiliary light with an LED equivalent, provide full emergency lanterns and remove an existing diesel generator and its fuel source and provide a battery back up.

There are also plans to remove the existing wall lining to expose the original masonry on the lighthouse tower, with the work aimed at reducing cost and maintenance requirements.

In an impact assessment report submitted on behalf of CIL in tandem with the listed building consent application, Dr Fred Hammond said removing the mercury would be a “huge heritage loss” to the lighthouse.

He said the only significant change arising from the technical proposals will be the replacement of the optic’s liquid mercury with a ring of sealed ball bearings.

Dr Hammond said the heritage loss should be weighed against the development gain of having a mercury-free environment.

He said the projected lifespan of the ball bearings is approximately 20 years and that the reduction of the lighthouse beam “should not be obvious to anyone in the vicinity of St John’s Point. 

CIL says the planned investment at the Killough lighthouse aims to “provide opportunities for realising the tourism potential of the site” with the work taking place if listed building consent is secured.

CIL says the mechanical bearing it is proposing has been successfully installed and is in operation at a number of Irish Lights sites. The lens is rotated on a ball bearing race using a specially designed brushless motor. 

It says the design is in use on a number of other onshore lighthouses with Fresnel lenses where mains electricity is available.

The Lecale Lightkeepers want the current beam, Fresnel lens and rotating mechanism retained and utilised as an important element of living history, not solely a navigational aid, for generations to come, arguing any attempt to replace the rotating beam with a less effective LED light must be revisited. 

They say the lighthouse is the only major historical asset that people in Killough have and  is much loved by coastal communities.

Campaigners are appealing to Newry, Mourne and Down Council not to renege on its support for the battle to protect the historic light in its present mechanism and contend that fitting LEDs at other lighthouses has not been successful.

Campaigners hope the application for listed building consent is refused, warning that if it’s approved, it will bring about a “material change” at the lighthouse and have a detrimental impact on the industrial heritage of not only Killough village, but wider Lecale area.

A campaign spokeswoman added: “The current light produces an iconic and characteristic ‘loom’ or halo around the beam, which enables it to be seen over the horizon which is not readily seen with an LED which has a shorter range.

“The intrinsic character of the lighthouse is its historic sweeping beam which meets the required standard and must not be altered, nor diminished. While we understand the need to modernise, we draw the line at the destruction of the sweeping beam that the Killough lighthouse produces.”