Photo exhibition to mark bicentenary of Haulbowline Lighthouse
A special photography exhibition is to be held as part of the celebrations to mark the Haulbowline Lighthouse’s bicentenary.
The lighthouse shone its first light in September 1824. The request for its construction came following complaints that the existing shore-based Cranfield Point Lighthouse did not mark the channel and dangerous rocks at the entrance to Carlingford Lough in an adequate way.
Cranfield Point lighthouse later became a victim of coastal erosion in the early 1860s.
Building Haulbowline Lighthouse on a semi-submerged rock with fast currents running around it was a remarkable achievement at the time. It has eight floors and at one time had accommodation for three lighthouse keepers. There is also a secondary lantern halfway up the tower which up until 1922 displayed a ‘half tide’ light to inform mariners that the tide was high enough to enter the lough.
The lighthouse stands at 34 metres and cost £28,242 to build which equates to over £300 million today!
Newry Maritime Association are launching their Haulbowline Lighthouse Bicentennial Project with ‘The Light of the Lough Cruise’ on the Waverley Paddle Steamer today (Wednesday, May 29).
They also are organising a small program of events in the weeks leading up to the illumination of the lighthouse on Friday, August 2 and details will be shared on social media and in the local press.
One of these events will be a photography exhibition showcasing Haulbowline Lighthouse and theonon Carlingford Lough area. The photography exhibition will be set up by Ann Bruen who helps run the Carlingford Lough and Cooley Peninsula social media pages along with Peter Larkin.
The exhibition will share pictures from the area taken by Ann and will also include several from Peter, who has been a coastguard with Greenore Coastguards for over 40 years and has seen more of Haulbowline Lighthouse close up than most of us.
The exhibition will take place from June – August in venues from Kilkeel to Greenore. The first exhibition will start on Tuesday, June 4 in Newry Library. This exhibition will be on the first floor beside the Heritage Collection. This will stay in Newry until Saturday, June 15.
It will then head to Warrenpoint Library from June 20-29 and onwards to Kilkeel Library from Wednesday, July 3 until Tuesday, July 9. It will then travel to the other side of the lough with exhibitions planned for Omeath, Carlingford and Greenore.
Due to the layout of the different venues, each exhibition will be a little different but will aim to celebrate Haulbowline’s 200th birthday in style.