Passage Point Lighthouse

Passage Point Lighthouse is located in the River Suir on the Waterford estuary. It is situated between Passage East in County Waterford and Arthurstown on the opposite side of the river in County Wexford.

The River Suir joins the River Barrow, which leads into New Ross.

The cast iron screw-pile lighthouse was designed by Alexander Mitchell, inventor of the screw-pile lighthouse.  It is one of four screw pile lighthouses built in Ireland. 

Initially, the lighthouse had a brickwork column mounted on top of the legs, but a perch has replaced this. A perch is said to have existed at Passage Point as far back as the 17th century.  The perch marked the entrance to Kings Bay, which was used as a harbour of refuge and was described as having a black barrel on top of a pole.

The current lighthouse was established in 1867.  Mitchell died the following year, in 1868.  His sons were also in the same line of business, so they were probably overseeing the work at the lighthouse.

The lighthouse can be seen from Passage Point and the bay or car park at Arthurstown. It is possible to get a Waterford Harbour cruise, which passes Passage Point on the way out to Hook Head Lighthouse.  Another good vantage point is from the Ballyhack to Passage East Ferry. 

The lighthouse is currently in a poor state of repair.