Roche's Point Lighthouse, Maritime navigation beacon at Cork Harbour entrance, Ireland
Roche's Point Lighthouse is a cylindrical white structure at the entrance to Cork Harbour in County Cork. The tower stands roughly 15 meters high with a balcony and lantern room, designed to guide vessels safely into the waterway.
The current structure was built in 1835 to replace an earlier, smaller tower at the same location. The new design included advanced lighting systems with reflectors and oil lamps that significantly improved navigation safety.
The lighthouse has long been a familiar sight for fishermen and sailors approaching Cork Harbour. It remains a marker of local maritime heritage and continues to shape how people experience the harbour entrance.
The beacon has operated automatically since 1995 and flashes white and red signals every three seconds to mark different navigation zones. The site can be windy and exposed, so visitors should be prepared for varying weather conditions.
The site was originally part of a banqueting house owned by Edward Roche, a notable local figure from earlier centuries. The decision to build the lighthouse here represented a practical use of an existing prominent location.
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