The Commissioners of Irish Lights, the statutory body responsible for lighthouses on the island of Ireland, has a page on their website about the Fastnet Lighthouse, noting thereon that the current light was first exhibited on 27 June 1904.
The ESB is running tours of the Ardnacrusha power station between 1 July and 6 September 2024.
Further details and bookings can be made here.
The Wicklow People reports that the mining heritage of Glendasan will be celebrated on 23rd June 2024 at 3pm. All are welcome, but transport to the site from the Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh will be required to be booked.
Further details in the Wicklow People article.
Thejournal.ie reports that Phase 2 of Thon Sheugh, sorry, the Ulster Canal for those of us who are not illiterate, is opening.
From the blurb, you would think that this was something wonderful, describing this as the opening of the canal from Clones to Clonfad.
It is only when you get to the bottom of the article and you read this:
“Phase three of the restoration, when complete, will link phases one and two, and fully reopen the waterway from Clones to Lough Erne.”
that you realise that you, the taxpayer, have been conned.
What has been opened is an elongated, open air swimming pool in Clones. I am looking forward to visiting Clones shortly to count the boats on this new section of Sheugh.
The infamous Keady Tunnel in Co. Armagh never saw a train run through it, being built under the short lived Keady to Castleblayney railway line (1910-1923).
The reason for its existence was the Ulster and Connaught Light Railway – a madcap scheme to build a narrow gauge railway from Greenore, Co. Louth, to Clifden Co. Galway, via Newry, Bessbrook, Keady, Tynan, Maguiresbridge, Bawnboy Road, Dromod, Rooskey, Tuam and Cong to Clifden.
Some of this network would use existing railways but the most significant section from Dromod to Clifden would be entirely new. As this line was authorised around the same time as the line from Castleblayney to Armagh, the builders of the latter had to accommodate the proposal with a bridge under their line at Keady.
As the U&CLR plans never came to fruition, the tunnel has never had a train run through it.
I have created a webpage in the Gazetteer for Keady Tunnel and this (and other tunnels) will feature in the next map upgrade.
Warrenpoint and Kilkeel Libraries are hosting a photo exhibition “200 Years of Haulbowline Lighthouse” in their respective premises.
The exhibition will be displayed in Warrenpoint Library from Thursday 20 June to Saturday 29 June, and then in Kilkeel Library from Saturday 3 July to Tuesday 9 July.
The exhibition is free and open to all during normal library opening hours.
The above titled event takes place on 26th June 2024 at 8pm in Oisin House & Park, Rossmore, Co. Laois. The event is free and all are welcome.
Newbridge Local History Group are hosting the above titled talk on Wednesday 12th June 2024 at 20:00 in Newbridge Parish Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare.
Presented by Professor Frank Barry, all are welcome.