Traveller stops off in support of iconic beam

Traveller stops off in support of iconic beam

29 July 2015

THE historic St John’s Lighthouse in Killough was the latest stopping point for an intrepid adventurer walking almost 10,000 miles around Irish and British coasts.

Last weekend, Alex Ellis- Roswell stopped off at the lighthouse not just to admire the breathtaking view, but support the campaign being waged by local people to have the sweeping beam at St John’s retained.

The visitor’s arrival comes after the recent launch of the Lecale Lightkeepers group which is campaigning for the retention of the six ton Fresnel lamp which the Commissioners of Irish Lights want to replace with a static LED light.

The controversial proposal has been put on hold for two years to allow Commissioners an opportunity to look at alternative rotating mechanisms for the Killough lens which 

currently floats in a bath of mercury. Commissioners argue the mercury bath poses a danger and that an LED replacement is more environmentally friendly. 

Those supporting the retention of the Fresnel lamp disagree as the liquid is contained in a sealed structure at St John’s which is the tallest lighthouse in Ireland. 

Alex Ellis-Roswell is on a quest to walk the shoreline of Britain and Ireland to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and arrived in Killough last weekend having completed almost half of his 9,500 mile challenge. The 22 year-old estimates it will take him three years to complete his marathon challenge.

“I decided to take a few days off to enjoy Ardglass,” explained Alex who said he decided to set out on his ‘bucket list journey’ after his father died last Christmas.

Alex made his way to St John’s Point during his stay and met former lighthouse keeper Henry Henvey (84) who knows every inch of the towering 130 foot structure.

Campaigners who want to engage with Commissioners revealed recently that international support for the campaign to retain the world famous lens is gathering increasing momentum. They argue the beam must be retained from both a historic and nostalgic viewpoint, not forgetting the lens remains a vital aid to navigation.

Ardglass resident William Mulhall, who helped set up the Lecale Lightkeepers campaign group, is delighted Alex is supporting the retention of the beam at St John’s which he described  as “highly efficient.”

He added: “It doesn’t need inferior LED bulbs or whatever the Commissioners of Irish Lights are threatening to install.”

The St John’s Lighthouse campaign is also being supported by rowers from Charity Row 2015 who also visited Killough last weekend. The four seaters are hoping to row their Australian surf boat Lex-May 2,500 miles around Ireland and Britain in 100 days to raise £100,000 for worthy causes.

Skipper Mark Green said the crew has experienced its fair share of “spills and scares.” 

He added: “We usually know where we are using electronics, but it’s very reassuring to have things like lighthouses confirming our position.”

Donations can be made to Alex’s fundraising trip via https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/longwalkaround, while the Charity Row 2015 initiative can be supported via http://ukcharityrow.co.uk