Metal Man, Maritime beacon in County Sligo, Ireland.
Metal Man is a cast iron beacon mounted on a limestone plinth between Rosses Point and Oyster Island in Sligo Bay. The statue depicts a naval officer and marks the safe passage for vessels navigating these shallow waters.
A London craftsman named Thomas Kirke created this navigation aid in 1819, and local merchants had it placed on Perch Rock in 1821. The installation responded to the growing need for better markers in these treacherous waters.
The statue has become a subject in Irish art, captured by painters who recognized its importance as a coastal marker. Locals connect this place to maritime tradition and use it as a reference point in their daily relationship with the water.
The location is clearly visible from the coastline and is most accessible during low tide or lower water levels. It helps to check local tide times to ensure safe access and to view the structure from different angles.
The structure operates on solar power and emits a distinctive light signal that sailors have used for navigation for around 200 years. This setup shows how navigation technology evolved while the original form remained virtually unchanged.
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