Castletownbere Shore Station is located on the eastern side of Castletownbere on the northern shore of Bantry Bay. The cottages were built around 1910 for the Roancarrigmore Lighthouse Keepers and their families. Later, the families and keepers for Calf and Bull Rock Lighthouse moved from the Calf Rock Shore Station to Castletownbere.
Since the introduction of helicopter reliefs, Castletownbeare has been a significant site as the coastal operations base. The site was also a base for engineers and technicians during the automation process and is still used by Irish Lights.
The base also hosts Search and Rescue helicopter operations in conjunction with the Irish Coast Guard.
Castletownbere, located on the Beara Peninsula, is a picturesque fishing town with a rich maritime heritage. It is one of the largest natural harbours in the world and a key port on Ireland’s southwest coast, playing an essential role in the country’s fishing industry.
MacCarthy’s Bar, on the Main Street, is well known locally. It was once the village grocery store and provided provisions for the lighthouse keepers going offshore.
Castletownbere is sheltered by and connected to Dinish Island, on which the Castletown Directional Light is located at the western end.
Two beacons initially lined up to form a transit into the harbour approach. A temporary light was first lit on 24th March 1965. It was later repositioned in place of the former upper rear lead daymark and established as a permanent light on 23rd November 1965.
On 10th March 1983 a new directional light was established at the former front lead daymark and the previous beacons were demolished. The current light was established in November 2010 following the discontinuation of the previous light.
Originally a red mark was painted on the structure but this is now painted black.
Dinish Island is accessible from Castletownbere by a bridge. The lighthouse is visible close to the Dinish Island Memorial. This memorial commemorates three members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who drowned here in 1897 when their boat sank.
The town also has military significance due to its proximity to Bere Island, which the British used as a strategic naval base during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Bere Island’s fortified positions and the nearby Berehaven Harbour made Castletownbere a key location for defending Ireland’s southern coast.
Ardnakinna Lighthouse is on its western shores, and Roancarrigmore Lighthouse is further into Bantry Bay.
Boat trips around Castletownbere also pass Roancarrigmore Lighthouse, and from the water, the shore station and helipad landing can be seen.
The distinctive Castletownbere Shore Station buildings can be seen from the road on entering Castletownbere from the south and also from the bridge to Dinish Island.
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