County Wexford and Hook Head Lighthouse

Built over 800 years ago, the lighthouse continues to serve its original function and is now the oldest operational lighthouse in the world.

It stands on the very tip of the windswept Hook peninsula in Co. Wexford, overlooking a number of important shipping routes. 

The existing tower dates from the 12th century, though tradition states that Dubhán, a missionary to the Wexford area, established a form of beacon as early as the 5th century. The headland is known in Irish as Rinn Dubháin, St. Dubhán’s Head. However, the similar-sounding Irish word ‘duán’ means a fish hook, hence the English name.