Mutton Island Lighthouse

The Lighthouse

Before a lighthouse ever was built a castle existed on the island.
In the 19th century merchants and shipowners of Galway wanted a proper lighthouse on Mutton Island.
In 1817 the tower was built and the light was established.
Mutton Island was one of the very few lighthouses where a keeper and his family lived. Weather was a big factor in the keeper's life. His family depended on food supplies from the mainland and the children had to be transported by boat to school on a daily basis, weather permitting.

Bill Scanlon

This is Bill Scanlon. He lived in the lighthhouse as a boy when his father was keeper there from 1943 to 1951. Bill came into our class and told us all about his time on the island when the lighthouse was his home. It was very interesting.

The light became automated in 1958 and on the 13th of December 1977 it was extinguished after 160 years of continuous service.
This year we created a working model of Mutton Island and its lighthouse as part of our Fionn Science Project. This also involved creating a digital video of the work we undertook. To view our video click here and select 56k or ISDN depending on your connection. If you have a broadband connection then click here instead.