Scattery Island Lighthouse

The Scattery Light was built to lead vessels to secure anchorage at Scattery Roads off the eastern shore of the island and to guide them up the River Shannon. Its construction was sanctioned by the Board of Trade in 1866. Originally, it was decided that the light should be within the boundary of the defensive battery, one of six built along the coast as fears of a French invasion mounted. To accommodate this, the light would have needed to be on rails so it could be moved in case of attack or during firing practice. Instead building began at its present site in the spring of 1868 and consisted of a simple iron framework surmounted by a lantern and an adjacent lightkeeper’s house. Six months later when it was destroyed in a storm, the decision was made to forego a replacement structure and instead to build build a more robust stone lighthouse tower. This was duly was completed and the light first exhibited in December of 1872.

A full-time keeper ran the lighthouse until 1933, when the light was converted to acetylene and an attendant took charge of the light.

Location:    52 36.3455 North,  9 31.0616 West.

Elevation:   15m

Character:  Group flashing, 2 flashes per 8s, flash 0.5s, eclipse 1s

Range:        19 km

By 2002, the light was fully automated.