St John's Point Lighthouse

St John's Point Lighthouse marks the southern tip of the Lecale peninsula near the village of Killough in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the tallest lighthouse on the mainland of Ireland, and it still works as an active aid to navigation at the approach to Dundrum Bay.

When was St John's Point Lighthouse built?

The Ballast Board approved a lighthouse here in 1839, and George Halpin designed the original station: a white tower of just 45 feet with two keepers' dwellings. The light was first lit on 1 May 1844. It changed from white to red in 1860, and the lamp switched from oil to gas in 1875.

Today's profile comes from a rebuild in 1892-93 by architect William Douglass. The tower was raised substantially and fitted with a new diamond-pane lantern. The works also added two new dwellings, a fog-signal house and a larger gas plant. Electricity arrived in 1957, and in 1981 the station was automated and the keepers withdrew.

How tall is it?

Sources differ slightly. The Commissioners of Irish Lights gives a tower height of about 40 m, with the light about 37 m above high water. Older accounts quote 120 feet, but that figure refers to the height of the light rather than the tower itself.

Is it a listed building?

Yes. Northern Ireland's heritage listing places it in Grade B1, first listed in 1995. The Commissioners of Irish Lights still manages it.

What can you see there?

From the lane you get a slim tower rising over a low, grassy headland and a rocky shore. On a clear day the view takes in Dundrum Bay and the open Irish Sea, which makes the spot popular for photography around sunrise and sunset. Some of the former keepers' houses are offered as holiday lets, so you can even stay beside the tower.

How do you get there?

The lighthouse lies roughly 3 km from Killough and about 8 km south of Downpatrick. Driving along the local roads of the Lecale peninsula is the easiest option. The postcode is BT30 7QY. Visitors normally view the tower from outside rather than going in.

When is the best time to visit?

Late spring and summer bring long days and steadier weather. Outside those months the point is exposed to strong wind, so pack a windproof layer.

Frequently asked questions

Can you climb the tower? No. It is a working navigation station without regular interior tours, so you see it from outside.

Is the light still in use? Yes. It was automated in 1981 and continues to serve shipping under the Commissioners of Irish Lights.

How tall is the lighthouse? The tower is about 40 m high, with the light roughly 37 m above sea level, making it the tallest mainland lighthouse in Ireland.

Where can you eat and sleep nearby? Killough and Downpatrick have food and lodging, and former keepers' houses at the lighthouse are sometimes let for holidays.