Inside the Valentia Lighthouse

The Valentia Lighthouse is one of the landmarks to visit here in Valentia Island. It seems it was put here to help sailors navigate the narrow strait which leads to Valentia Harbor. The lighthouse is part of a network of lighthouses which dot the coast of Ireland. This was originally the site of an old fort, though I can’t imagine who would want to set up a fort here in the middle of nowhere. In 1828, a lighthouse was set up here with a full time staff of one, including the family. Eventually, the light was automated in the 1940s and finally, the light itself was replaced by LED bulbs which are more energy efficient.

The top of the lighthouse is accessed by spiral flight of stairs. It wasn’t really that high but it is still good enough to give the visitor a good view of the surrounding area. The weather was really very bad that day. It was difficult for me to take photos with the wind constantly battering you. The waters as a result are likewise very rough. I can imagine why they would set up a lighthouse here since the weather here makes navigating the strait very treacherous. I couldn’t get up close with the bulb itself since it is off limits, though it would have been cool to see it.

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