Sheep’s Head Lighthouse

Sheep’s Head Lighthouse was built to guard the passage for oil tankers using the oil terminal on Whiddy Island. 

Located at the southern entrance to Bantry Bay, Sheep’s Head Lighthouse was first exhibited on 14th October 1968.  

A long flight of steps leads up to the tower, which was built in 1965. Its design is similar to Achillbeg Lighthouse.

Construction materials were loaded by helicopter from Kilchrohan.

Throughout the 1960s, the number of large crude oil carriers from the Middle East increased. In 1966, Gulf Oil proposed Whiddy Island as the most suitable site for a new European terminal to serve the largest vessels.

However, by the mid 1970s trade was seriously disrupted both by recession and a strike at the terminal.  And on 8th January 1979, disaster struck at Whiddy Island when, at around 1.00am, the oil tanker Betalgeuse exploded in Bantry Bay at Whiddy Island oil terminal, killing 50 people. 

Sheep’s Head Lighthouse was originally monitored by the Mizen Head Lighthouse Keepers via radio.

The lighthouse was automated in 1993, after which time it was connected to the Irish Lights Headquarters at Dun Laoghaire.

Sheep’s Head, also known as Muntervary, marks the end of the peninsula between Bantry Bay and Dunmanus Bay.

The Sheep’s Head peninsula is close to the Gulf Stream and has some of the mildest climates in Ireland. The Sheep’s Head Way is a 55-mile-long walking trail with smaller loops interspersed.

Sheep’s Head Lighthouse is accessible by footpath from Tooreen, where the road ends, with a car parking area.  From here, it is approximately a mile walk to the lighthouse.

It is advisable to check out the Do’s and Don’ts of walking the way.  As the walk passes through working farms and livestock areas, dogs are not allowed on the Sheep’s Head Way. Also, be prepared for the weather conditions to change.