1904 – Fastnet Lighthouse, Co. Cork

Architect: William Douglass

fastnet

The second lighthouse on Fastnet Rock was designed by William Douglass and built under the supervision of James Kavanagh. Construction started in 1897 with the levelling of the site, and the first of 2,047 Cornish granite dovetailed blocks was laid in June 1899. The new lighthouse entered service on 27 June 1904 having cost nearly £90,000. Expenses including the construction of a small steamship for carrying the stone blocks and rock fill to the island.

The masonry tower is 146 feet high, with the focal point of the light 159 feet above high water mark. The base of the lighthouse is 52 feet in diameter. The interior of the tower was filled with rock to a level 58 feet above the high water mark. The lighthouse was converted to automatic operation in March 1989.