Simple solution to Killybegs’ ‘Rotten Island’ lighthouse problem

What could be one of county and country’s most iconic attractions at the entry to the deep sea harbour in Killybegs is being ignored, requiring little more than a good lick of paint, Cllr Niamh Kennedy (Ind.) suggested at this month’s meeting of the Donegal Municipal District (MD), of which sh id the current Chairperson

She had asked, through a motion, that the MD write to the Chief Executive of Irish lights to “please paint the external walls of the Rotten Island lighthouse”.

She said that this had been brought to their attention as far back as 2015, but “for their own reasons felt that it was no longer necessary”.

From an aesthetic point of view she was now asking them to reconsider their previous rejection “in the interests of tourism and promotion of the town from an historic structure, listed building viewpoint”.

This could be supported as part of a “new tourism product and for the welcome of cruise ships and Blueways within Donegal Bay”, she added.

Cllr Kennedy is the current Chair of the Donegal Municipal District

Cllr Kennedy told fellow councillors that it was a great asset for the county and region.

She explained that a tiny strip of it had been painted, after the 2015 approach, but this made it look a lot worse, not better.

Its origins dated back to 1837 and was the creation of George Halpin, who was an accomplished lighthouse builder and civil engineer, responsible for many of the great lighthouses around the country, many of which were heavily marketed for the tourist industry.

She said that all that was needed at Rotten Island lighthouse was some “TLC”.

She was “desperately disappointed” that the Commissioner of Irish Lights had not taken action on this “lovely little lighthouse” in a way that could greatly enhance its attraction to locals and visitors alike.

Today, she said it should be viewed “as a monument to those that were involved in the initial construction as well as a welcome approach to seafarers and cruise users” coming into the harbour.

It was all about appearance when it came to tourist attractions and that while it featured in so many of the photos that were taken by cruise ship visitors to Killybegs, it definitely needed to be painted again.

In a response from the roads section of the council, she was told that the responsibility for this lighthouse rests with the Commissioners of Irish Lights and not the Local Authority.

“If the motion is passed (which it was) it may be better if the letter mentioned above was sent from the Council’s Tourism team in line with wording of the motion”.

The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) has described the lighthouse as follows:

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“Set in an exposed and isolated situation off the coast of Carntullagh Head, this lighthouse acts as a monument to the skill and dedication of those involved in its initial construction, and to the lighthouse keepers stationed here from the mid-nineteenth century until automation in recent decades.

“It has provided a familiar and welcome sight to generations of mariners and fishermen based at Killybegs. It forms the centrepiece of a pair of related structures along with the former lighthouse keeper’s house to the site and is an important element of the extensive maritime heritage of County Donegal.”