Irish Lighthouses

The Poolbeg Lighthouse, one of a trio of lighthouses leading into Dublin Harbour, is painted red to indicate starboard.   The lighthouse perches on the end of the 4K long Great South Wall and if one wanted to watch the ships go by from this vantage point I am told it is a 40 minute walk.

As you may be able to see there are few people having made the walk enjoying a beautiful day and taking in the view.

Travelling south Wicklow Lighthouse's portrait is one of a variety of scenes that brighten up the side of  a warehouse on the harbour's North Quay.

Here is the real thing, built in 1884, it sits at the entrance to Wicklow Harbour on the East Pier. The cargo ship (GEC Cosmo) despite appearances it actually reversing out of the harbour after unloading timber.  People who can reverse well always impress me so I enjoyed a sit in the sunshine and watched as it smoothly left the harbour and then turned in the open sea and went on its way. While I was up on the sea wall I discovered the lighthouse had an intriguing secret when I walked around the back

The romantic "Will you Marry Me?" M.  Wouldn't we all like to know the story behind this.  

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet, this week sojourning at L here

 

Union Jack on Holiday

Union Jacks being flown at the entrance to Port Haverigg Holiday Park to welcome the residents.  There was a discussion at the time Scotland was voting whether to become independent of the United Kingdom what our national flag might look like without the St Andrews Cross on it and a number of possible designs produced.  As it never happened no need to buy fresh flags, yet.

Lets take a walk down the road

and something unexpected may be seen outside one of the holiday homes which overlook the Hodbarrow Lagoon.  A miniature lighthouse, complete with little door, cottage and boathouse made with beach pebbles. Our artist has also included a windmill. Perhaps the miller and the lighthouse keeper go to the

 little church across the path on Sundays.  It doesn't show up too well on the photograph but the snaking sign says, or should I say hisses, "Pleeesse Water'. A plea to the unheedful gardener?

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet, this week sojourning at U here 

Talacre Lighthouse

The Talacre Lighthouse sits on the beach at the Point of Ayr in Flintshire, the northernmost point of mainland Wales. I was experiencing a breezy day on Talacre beach but I can't remember now whether the tide was going in, or out.

A lighthouse was placed here in 1776 after a storm wrecked two ships with a loss of 200 lives and cargo and it is considered the oldest lighthouse in Wales.  Around 1818 the original building was destroyed by the sea but Trinity House built this more robust structure in 1820. It stands 60 ft high with a 18 ft diameter.  The aim was to guide ships away from the sandbanks and provide a bearing for the Port of Liverpool and mark the rivers of the Mersey and Dee.  Deactivated in 1883 (and superseded by the Dee lightship) it is now in private ownership.

In the 19th Century the lighthouse would have had red and white stripes and it looks as though it could do with a lick of paint now, although when it featured at the end of the Dulux Dog advert in 2011 it was pure white and this was also the year when the owner put it up for sale (I believe it was eventually sold earlier this year).  The door is only accessible on foot at low tide and at high tide there are 40 yards of water to the beach however the buyer does get a residential ghost which  of course is a lighthouse keeper who stands in front of the glass dome.  It is said that dogs don't like the spooky vibes and run away, 

but this one was too busy enjoying the water to bother about that.  In 2010 as part of an art project a temporary stainless steel figure called 'The Keeper' was erected on the balcony, I wonder if anyone saw double?

The dunes the lighthouse was originally built on have since retreated and that is why it stands in the middle of the beach.  Today the sand dunes are protected and the perfect place for its residential Natterjack Toads.

The 870 mile Wales Coastal Path  runs through Talacre so perhaps The Smugglers Inn would be a place to stop off for a drink.  The sign says they serve Tavern Beers.   

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet this week sojourning at T here

Yellow Yacht Yonder

A walk over the Haverigg sand dunes which at this time of the year are ablaze with yellow flowers but I spotted one lone plant 

Limnanthes douglasii

I did not expect to see, a poached egg plant.  It must have seeded from a garden escapee, it is not a native plant although once planted in an English garden they are prolific.  I always thought they liked moist soil but here they are happily growing in sand

And enjoying the sun

The tide had ebbed and we walked to where the River Lazy joins the sea  and what do I spy but a yellow yacht in the distance

 high and dry on the sand yonder.  We walk on north returning to the sand dunes and

later when on the top gaze towards the lighthouse and  see the yellow yacht beginning to float although the tide 

still had a way to come in, we waited no longer as there was an appointment with an ice-cream

An entry to ABC Wednesday - a journey through the alphabet nearing the end (of this round).  I must have been so overexcited about that fact that I thought today was Tuesday and now realise my error, still Monday. Gosh almost like having a longer week.  It makes a change for me to be ahead of time, I'm a waiting for the deadline to appear kind of person.