Sheep's Head Lighthouse
{{Short description|A lighthouse in County Cork, Ireland}}
{{Infobox lighthouse
| name = Sheep's Head Lighthouse
| image = Sheep's Head Lighthouse.jpg
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| caption = Sheep's Head Lighthouse
| location =
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| coordinates = {{Coord|51.54293|-9.84847|region:Ireland|display=inline,title}}
| yearlit = 1968
| automated =
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| shape = small cylindrical tower
| marking = white
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| lens = 150-watt lamp, 800mm dioptric lens
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| country = Ireland
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Sheep's Head Lighthouse is an active 20th century lighthouse positioned on Sheep's Head, County Cork, Ireland.
Construction
The lighthouse was commissioned by Irish Lights on the request of the Minister of Transport and Power and built in 1968 by J. Dennehy of Castletownbere and James Bradfield of Cork.{{cite news |title=Good weather aided work on new lighthouse |work=Cork Weekly Examiner |date=22 August 1968}} The lens for the lighthouse, and other parts and materials, had to be transported by a helicopter, totaling in around 250 trips.{{cite news |title=Air-lift for new lighthouse |work=Irish Examiner |date=8 June 1968}} Power was connected to the lighthouse by ESB over 19 electricity poles, at the same time as the Mizen Head signal station was electrified.{{cite news |title=E.S.B. power at the Mizen |work=Southern Star |date=6 July 1968}}
The design is similar to Achillbeg lighthouse. It is a {{cvt|7|m}} high white round tower is situated on a square building, with the light {{cvt|83|m}} above sea level. It emits three flashes every 15 seconds. There are backup lights and a backup diesel power source.
The Sheep's Head lighthouse was originally built to aid in the navigation of the tankers servicing the then-new Gulf Oil terminal on Whiddy Island,{{cite news |title=To guide the tankers in |work=Southern Star |date=19 April 1969}} with the first tanker to avail of the aid being the {{cvt|312,000|t}} Universe Ireland, then the largest ship in the world, arriving from Kuwait on October 29, 1968.{{cite news |title=Helicopter flew at 125 M.P.H. on trip from Cork |work=Irish Examiner |date=21 September 1968}} To provide the expected service to large tankers, the light from Mizen Head and Sheep's Head lighthouses had to be sufficiently bright which in 1968 was confirmed to be 51,000 candles in the white section for the latter.{{cite news |title=West Cork Lighthouses to increase power |work=Irish Examiner |date=9 October 1968}} According to some sources, the Gulf Oil corporation itself was engaged in arranging the construction of the lighthouse.{{cite news |last1=TGB |title=Great ships in a great bay |work=Evening Echo |date=29 October 1968}}
Access
The lighthouse is automatic and not staffed.{{cite news |title=New lighthouse at Bantry bay |work=Irish Examiner |date=6 June 1968}} Visitors can view it from the walking route, the {{cvt|3.4|km}} "Lighthouse Loop",{{cite web |title=Sheep's Head - Lighthouse Loop |url=https://www.discoverireland.ie/cork/sheep-s-head-lighthouse-loop |website=DiscoverIreland |publisher=Fáilte Ireland |access-date=15 October 2024}} and climb its stairs.
