Campaign to save lighthouse beam remains

Campaign to save lighthouse beam remains

9 August 2023

A CAMPAIGN group set up to oppose controversial changes at St John’s Point lighthouse in Killough is remaining steadfast to protect the structure’s unique heritage.

The Commissioner of Irish Lights (CIL) is proposing significant changes to the historic lighthouse by replacing the current mechanism which rotates a huge Fresnel lens and the current light with a modern LED.

The Lecale Lightkeepers want both proposals scrapped, while Irish Lights officials insist that the planned changes are “minimal” and will not result in major changes to the lighthouse’s iconic sweeping beam.

The claim has been firmly rejected by local people including the the campaign group who say the beam’s range will be reduced by up to nine miles if the changes are allowed to proceed.

In addition to fitting a new LED light, Commissioners want to remove mercury from the lighthouse’s current rotating lens mechanism and replace it with a German-made alternative.

After relatively little movement over recent months, CIL is currently proposing trialling an LED bulb in the lighthouse for a few nights in September.

Lecale Lightkeepers agreed to consider the plan and in so doing, looked into the most recent findings on LED lights and have observed various Irish light facilities which have already been converted to LEDs.

“We have not been persuaded by the modernised lights because LEDs are incapable of producing a loom of light and the original range of the light is reduced by several miles,” said a spokeswoman.

“We are surprised at CIL’s proposal for this trial because Newry, Mourne and Down Council has promised to protect the historic light in its present mechanism.

The spokeswoman said CIL should remember that its plans for the “modernisation” of the light at St John’s Point were strongly rejected by the local communities at the two public meetings held in Ardglass. 

“The local communities, including the Killough Community Association, want their heritage to be retained intact. Today, Lecale Lightkeepers are as firm in their resolve to protect the light as they were eight years ago.”

The spokeswoman added: ‘May the heritage of the sweeping beam in its present mechanism continue to shine for future generations.”

CIL has always insisted that the engineering works planned for St John’s Point will deliver a “better quality, environmentally superior solution which meets modern health and safety requirements.” 

They say they are simply removing mercury out of the rotating lens system and putting in a new

“innovative mechanical bearing solution”, insisting that the changes are not being driven by any directive to make savings.

But campaigners insist they very well possibly have the finest example of a lighthouse of its kind an are particularly proud of it and that no one is in any doubt about the maritime history and heritage of St John’s Point and its uniqueness.

They accused Commissioners of “destroying” the heritage of Tory Island lighthouse and wanting to do the same in Killough.

Campaigners described St John’s Point lighthouse as “unique and authentic” and a “precious asset” that is working perfectly and must be retained in its current form. 

They say the proposed changes are essentially focused on decommissioning the current Burdel lens rotation system and its mercury bearing, suggesting that there appears to be an “obsession” with getting rid of mercury in a structure where there are 32 brass vents and a cowl on the roof that.

During a public meeting in Ardglass several years ago, campaigners explained that when the Burdel rotating system was first invented, it was regarded as a “beautiful application of mercury and rendered obsolete the use of ball and roller bearings and the chariot wheels they used to use in those days”.

They argued CIL’s plans represented a backward step not a forward one and they abhorred the idea of breaking up the Fresnel lens and Burdel rotation system.

An appeal was also made during the Ardglass meeting to retain in its entirety what was described as the Killough lighthouse’s “rare bit of engineering excellence” for future generations.

Campaigners say there is a cogent argument for the heritage of the historic site to be preserved and that the lighthouse offers major potential as tourist attraction.