Campaign to keep lighthouse beam brought to Leinster House

Campaign to keep lighthouse beam brought to Leinster House

25 January 2017

THE campaign to retain the sweeping beam at St John’s Point lighthouse near Killough was taken to Dublin last week.

Members of Lecale Lightkeepers — the group set up to oppose plans to replace the lamp with a modern LED light — met several TDs at Leinster House to outline their concerns about the implications of such a move.

The Dublin-based Commissioner of Irish Lights is responsible for lighthouses on both sides of the border and is behind the controversial proposal to remove the beam from the local lighthouse.

Campaigners and politicians are opposed to the proposal and want the Fresnel lamp which produces the powerful beam to be allowed to remain in place. They argue the beam, which has a range of 18 nautical miles, is an integral part of the Lecale coastline’s maritime history and must be retained.

Last week’s visit to meet TD’s was organised for campaigners by South Down MLA and Stormont Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard and the talks have been described as “encouraging.”

Campaigners and residents opposed to the withdrawal of the beam say the move would be tantamount to taking the heart and soul out of Killough village and surrounding area. They say the beam must be preserved for current and future generations.

A spokeswoman for the campaign group, which is also keen to meet with Stormont MLA’s after the March election, said Lecale Lightkeepers want to put their case to governments in Dublin and Belfast.

“The Commissioner of Irish Lights is based in Dun Laoghaire and as the organisation is accountable to two jurisdictions, we want to meet with the political representatives in both,” she continued.

“Last Wednesday, we took our campaign to Leinster House and are grateful to Mr Hazzard, who has supported the cause from the outset, for arranging a meeting with a number of TDs concerned with heritage, tourism, environmental and maritime interests.”

The spokeswoman said the TDs were very interested and supportive of the view that the heritage of the Killough lighthouse is at risk if the proposal to replace the current lamp with an LED light goes ahead. She said campaigners also hope the issue will be raised in the Dail.

“We hope the Commissioners will see the value of keeping the lighthouse at St John’s Point just as it is. By replacing most of the great Fresnel lights of Ireland with LEDs, the Commissioners have created a unique and valuable asset at St John’s Point,” contended the spokeswoman.

“We hope they will realise its significance as a great light of Ireland, with an exceptional sweeping beam that is a much loved feature of the nocturnal landscape of Co Down.”

The spokeswoman suggested most countries in the world seek to retain even a few of these “magnificent lights” as working examples of a rich heritage and hopes this is what will happen in Killough.

She added: “As the Commissioner of Irish Lights operates in two jurisdictions, the plight of St John’s Point lighthouse is relevant in both and we welcome the opportunity to have our concerns discussed at government level. 

“Our visit to Dublin was informative and encouraging. We appreciate the time given to us and the hospitality we received at Leinster House. We are grateful to Mr Hazzard and his assistant Vincent MacDonald for their continued support and interest in the lighthouse.”