Richard M. Taylor: The Lighthouses of Ireland [2006]

Lighthouses can be romantic, mystical and tragic. Most people know of the Fastnet and Loop Head, but may not have heard of Rotten Island, Maidens or Straw Island or that there are 86 lighthouses on or off the coast of Ireland. The story behind this remarkable system of lighting our coast is virtually unknown. Richard Taylor was a lighthouse technician for 44 years, worked on all 86 lighthouses and is uniquely qualified to write this personal history-cum-guide. Describing the lighthouses and their history, he captures the unique way of life of the lighthouse keepers and their families, largely ignored and, with automation, no longer extant. Often waiting weeks at places like Blacksod or Valentia for the weather to abate, Richard got to know lighthouse keepers and their families intimately. The result is a book embellished with anecdotes and hair-raising tales of getting on to lighthouses, time spent there, often weeks on end, and getting off. A notable inclusion is a strongly worded letter dated 9 August, 1950 from the Principal Keeper, St John's Lighthouse, Co. Down, to head office urging the dismissal of one Brendan Behan from the position of painter.