Hook Head Lighthouse.

52°7.3' North
6°55.7' West
Aids to Navigation
Fl white 3s.
Range 23 nautical miles.
Height above MHWS 46 meters.
Height of tower 35 meters.

Hook Head lighthouse is thought to be the oldest lighthouse in the world, according to tradition, Saint Dubhán a 5th century Welsh monk founded a monastery on the site now occupied by the old church of Churchtown, sometime later he established a beacon on Hook Point, which came to be known as Rinn Dubhán or point of Dubhan, it is interesting to note that the word dubhán or duáin is an Irish word which means fishing hook, from which the promontory derives its present name. Dubhán's lighthouse would probably just consisted of a fire on a pile of rocks or small tower which would have been light at night.

After the Norman invasion in 1169 a lighthouse was built by Raymond LeGros, who was married to the only sister of Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare (Strongbow) LeGros's built his tower around 1172 it may have served not only as a lighthouse but as a fortification to guard the entrance to Waterford harbour. LeGross left the keeping of the light with the monks of the Priory of Saint Augustine in Ross, which as part of the Norman reorganization of the Irish church was renamed Saint Saviour’s of Rendevan.

The monks continued to maintain the light even through the reformation period of Henry VIII, with the onset of the 1641 rebellion the monks were forced to leave the tower and it fell into disrepair. With Cromwell victorious nothing was done to reinstate the light and many shipwrecks occurred, petitions were presented to Duncannon Fort without success. It was only after the restoration of the monarchy that Charles II granted Letters Patent to Sir Richard Reading in 1665 to erect six lighthouses around the Irish coast, one of which was at Hook.

Hook Head Lighthouse continues to this day the work begun by the monks so long ago, in 1996 the light was automated and the keepers withdrawn. Today the lighthouse is open to the public guided tours are available, the guides will tell you the legend of Dubhán of how he was distressed to find the bodies of drowned sailors on the shore and decided to build his light. You can climb the 115 steps to the parapet for magnificent views both to sea and inland, afterwards you can relax in the Lighthouse cafe or browse some of the locally made wares in the craft shop.

Car and coach parking available on site, discount available for group bookings please contact the centre in advance to ensure a comfortable visit for groups. Multi-lingual literature available. Hook lighthouse is situated on the R734, 50 km from Wexford, 29 km from Waterford via the Passage East Car Ferry and 38km from New Ross.

For a comprehensive history and technical information about Hook Head Lighthouse visit this page on the Irish Light site.