Haulbowline Lighthouse

Haulbowline Lighthouse rises from a reef at the mouth of Carlingford Lough, close to Cranfield Point in County Down, the southernmost tip of Northern Ireland. The slender stone tower is 34 m tall with the lantern 32 m above the sea, and it is still an active aid to navigation run by the Commissioners of Irish Lights.

Where is it and why was it built?

The tower sits on the eastern part of the Haulbowline rocks, one of several hazards guarding the lough entrance. A broad shoal also runs across the mouth. The light marked the rocks, helped early mariners judge the depth of water over the bar, and served as a landfall beacon for ships arriving from the Irish Sea.

How did it come about?

In 1817 Newry merchants petitioned the Ballast Board for a better light, because the 1803 beacon on Cranfield Point was badly placed. George Halpin senior, the Board's inspector of works, drew up the design. The lamp was first lit on 1 September 1824. The old Cranfield Point tower did not last: erosion brought it down onto the foreshore in the early 1860s.

What makes it special?

• It is a Grade B+ listed building in Northern Ireland (listed 2002).
• The Historic Environment Division record notes that its half-tide balcony is the only one on any lighthouse in Ulster.
• The listing ties the tower to the history of Newry and Greenore as busy trading ports.
• The tower was painted white until 1946, then returned to bare stone.
• On 17 March 1965 it became the first major offshore Irish light to be fully automated.

Haulbowline works with the leading lights on Green Island and Vidal Bank, which mark the safe channel up the lough, and it carries a reserve light in case they fail. The fog signal was discontinued in January 2009, and the light's range was reduced to 10 nautical miles in 2011.

How can you see it?

The tower stands on offshore rocks and cannot be visited inside. The best views are from the shore around Cranfield Point on the County Down side, or across the water from Carlingford and the Cooley peninsula. Bring binoculars or a long lens. The nearest sizeable town on the northern shore is Kilkeel. Clear mornings and evenings give the best light for photographs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside Haulbowline Lighthouse? No. It is automated, stands on open-sea rocks and has no public access.

Is it the same as Haulbowline in Cork Harbour? No. This lighthouse guards Carlingford Lough on the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland border waters; the island of the same name in Cork Harbour is a different place.

Who designed it and when did it open? George Halpin senior designed it, and the light first shone in 1824.

Is the light still in use? Yes. It has run automatically since 1965 and remains an active navigation mark.