Donaghadee lighthouse, lighthouse in Northern Ireland
Donaghadee lighthouse is a white stone structure built from cut limestone in 1836 and stands about 16 meters tall. It sits on a small headland at the harbor entrance and has a lantern and dome at the top that are maintained today.
The lighthouse was built in 1836 to protect ships from rocky coasts and support a route between Donaghadee and the Scottish port of Portpatrick. In 1934 it became Ireland's first lighthouse to convert fully to electric power, later gaining automatic systems and backup generators to ensure operation.
The name Donaghadee comes from Irish and means 'fortress of the dog'. The village keeps its maritime tradition alive today, with active fishermen and a lifeboat station right beside the lighthouse, showing how important seafaring and safety remain to the community.
The lighthouse is open to visitors, and on some days you can go inside to see how it was built and how the mechanisms work. Climbing the tower offers views of the coastline and town, best experienced in dry weather.
The lighthouse was the first light in all of Ireland to switch fully to electric lighting in 1934, making it a pioneer in Irish maritime technology. This technological leap showed how innovative this small harbor community was at that time.
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