Spit Bank Lighthouse is located in Cobh Harbour to the northeast of Spike Island and Haulbowline Island. An unlit buoy first marked this channel, which was maintained by the Ballast Board until 1848. After this time, the Cork Harbour Commissioners requested that it be replaced with a floating light.
After further discussion, the Board agreed to build a screw-pile lighthouse. It was designed by Alexander Mitchell and established in March 1853. The lighthouse exhibited a fixed red light using a dioptric sixth-order optic. A fog bell was added in 1895.
A Principal and Assistant Keeper were appointed to the station. While off duty, they lived in rented accommodation in Cobh.
A local Temporary Keeper worked on Sundays and covered when keepers were sick or on leave. There were two reliefs a day, one at 9.00 am, and one before sunset. This meant that two men were on duty during the night and one during the day.
A new unwatched light, displaying an occulting red light, was established on 22nd March 1942. The keepers were withdrawn, and the fog signal was discontinued. An Attendant from Cobh was then appointed.
In 1954, a fog bell was re-established, first on a trial basis in January 1956 and then permanently the following year.
On 17th December 1978, the lighthouse was seriously damaged when the MV Levensau hit the lighthouse, after dragging her anchor.
In 1983, Irish Lights announced their intention to discontinue the Spit Bank Lighthouse. Following the discontinuation of the fog signal, they handed over responsibility for the light to the Harbour Commissioners on 1st November 1985.
Spit Bank Lighthouse can be viewed from Cobh waterfront. A good viewpoint is from the Titanic Memorial Garden.
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