Hook Lighthouse

Hook Lighthouse

Hook Head Lighthouse
Hook Lighthouse Ireland
Location	County Wexford, Ireland
Coordinates	52°7′25.7″N 6°55′45.5″W / 52.123806°N 6.929306°W / 52.123806; -6.929306Coordinates: 52°7′25.7″N 6°55′45.5″W / 52.123806°N 6.929306°W / 52.123806; -6.929306
Year first constructed	1172
Automated	1996
Construction	limestone tower
Tower shape	broad cylindrical tower with double balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern	white tower with two black bands
Height	35 metres (115 ft)
Focal height	46 metres (151 ft)
Current lens	third order Fresnel lens
Range	23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W 3s.
Racon	K
Admiralty number	A5798
NGA number	6460
ARLHS number	IRE-038
Ireland number	CIL-0380
Managing agent	Hook Heritage Ltd.
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The Hook Lighthouse (Irish: Teach Solais Rinn Duáin; also known as Hook Head Lighthouse) is a building situated on Hook Head at the tip of the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford, in Ireland. It is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world and the second oldest operating lighthouse in the world, after the Tower of Hercules in Spain. It is operated by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, the Irish Lighthouse Authority, it marks the eastern entrance to Waterford Harbour. The current structure has stood for almost 800 years.

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. It is known locally as "the tower of Hook."

The tower was built by Strongbow's son-in-law William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, who succeeded Strongbow as Lord of Leinster. Pembroke had established a port in the town of New Ross, approx. 30 km up river. In order for his new port to be successful and for ships to safely reach their destination, Pembroke had a 36m high tower built at the mouth of Waterford Harbour. The exact year of construction is not known, but Pembroke first came to the region in 1201 and the first map that shows the lighthouse serving its function is dated 1240, so construction must have taken place between these dates.

The first custodians to the light were a small group of monks whose small monastery was situated on the peninsula. The monks who lived at this monastery would have lit warning fires and beacons all through the years to warn sailors of the dangerous rocks on the peninsula. It was the monks who lived at this monastery in the 13th century that became the first light-keepers. They are also thought to have helped in the construction of the tower.