Bull Rock Lighthouse is located off Dursey Island at the end of the Beara Peninsula. There are a number of hazardous rocks off the western end of Dursey Island: The Bull, The Cow, The Calf and The Heifer. Bull Rock has steep sides with a summit of 305 feet above sea level.
A lighthouse and fog station are located at the top of The Bull, which has a large tunnel running through the rock. The Calf is low-lying at 78 feet above sea level, with the remains of a cast-iron lighthouse on the summit.
The rocks were unlit until the mid-19th century when shipowners and merchants petitioned the Ballast Board.
George Halpin surveyed Calf Rock and drew up plans for a lighthouse. Due to the rock’s exposed nature, he anticipated great expense due to the difficulty of construction and landing. Lighthouse keepers’ cottages were built on the mainland at the southern end of Dursey Sound.
Many arguments ensued as to whether the Calf or Bull was more suitable. Finally, a tower was established on the Calf in August 1864, and Henry Grissell was the contractor. Calf Rock Lighthouse was made of cast iron with an elevation of 102 feet. The lantern was added later and finally exhibited on 30th June 1866. However, the tower windows were frequently smashed by heavy seas because the shutters had been placed inside the tower.
The Calf Rock shore station, built in the early 1860s, overlooks Dursey Island and is used by the keepers and their families.
The lighthouse continued for two and a half years until, on 30th January 1869, a storm washed away part of the balcony, and the stores were destroyed. Following the storm, the Assistant Keeper on leave mistook a flag flying from the lighthouse to be a distress signal. Six local boatmen rowed him out to the lighthouse in heavy seas. The keepers were safe, but on their return, the boat capsized, and the seven men drowned.
James Douglass was asked to visit The Calf, and work started to repair the damage. The base was strengthened, and its diameter was increased with a cast iron skirt added.
On 27th December 1881, a severe storm destroyed the lighthouse. The keepers and workmen were fortunately in the strengthened base of the tower when the top section was ripped away. Unfortunately, it would be another two weeks before the men could be rescued.
Following the demise of The Calf, it was unanimously agreed that Bull Rock was the best location to establish a new lighthouse. During its construction, a temporary light was positioned at the western end of Dursey Island. An old lightvessel lantern was mounted on a wooden structure and exhibited on 2nd February 1882. Its former boundary wall is still evident.
Progress on the new lighthouse was slow due to the difficulty of landing and the elevation of the rock. The sites had to be levelled first for the buildings and to allow the light to be visible from all points. Over 300 steps were also cut into the rock to the boat landing.
But by the end of 1888, the octagonal tower, dwellings, oil gas works, and fog signal had been built. The lighthouse was first exhibited on 1st January 1889, and the temporary light on Dursey Island was then extinguished. The lighthouse housed a bi-form hyper-radial optic, the largest in Ireland.
Alterations were made in April 1902, when a siren replaced the explosive fog signal. Three trumpets were operated by air compressors. In 1910, the station was converted to paraffin vapour from gas, and the intensity of the light increased.
A helicopter pad was added in 1969 when relief by helicopter took place, and the fog signal was discontinued in May 1989.
The lighthouse was converted to electricity in 1974, and on 31st March 1991, Bull Rock Lighthouse was automated. During automation, the lantern and optic were replaced by a smaller lantern and optic. It was converted to solar operation in October 2000.
Dursey Island cable car provides access to from the mainland to Dursey Island where the temporary light was established. It is one of the few cable cars crossing the sea in Europe.
This RTE archive video shows the Bull and Calf Rock Lighthouses.
Dursey Boat Trips operate boat trips out to Bull Rock and Calf Rock.
