Lighthouse Festival To Shine A Light On Maritime Matters

A free fun filled festival set to shine a light on all things maritime will get underway at the world’s oldest intact working Lighthouse on the Hook Peninsula County Wexford this May bank holiday weekend.

 

An action packed weekend of festivities will get underway from Saturday, April 29th from 11am. Join in the fun and games for all the family or enroll at the new Pirate School headed up by none other than Captain Hook.

 Lighthouse Festival To Shine A Light On Maritime Matters

Hook Lighthouse

Also taking place over the weekend will be an opportunity to learn first hand about safety at sea from members of the Irish Coast Guard. Visitors will also have the chance to step back in time with the re-enactors from Claoimh who will demonstrate life and battles from the medieval past. Join in lawn games and fun adventures with Pirate Pat and Captain Hook or for the ‘bigger adventurous kids’ can try out the Bungee Trampoline. A craft market featuring pieces from crafters based all across the southeast region will also be hosted over the weekend.

 

The festival will also focus on the heritage and past of Hook Lighthouse, shining a light on life as it was at this, the world’s oldest operational lighthouse. Commenting on the upcoming festival weekend, Manager at Hook Lighthouse Ann Waters said, “We are delighted to host another Shine A Light Festival, it is always a fantastic weekend of fun for all the family with the added benefit of placing an important focus on safety at sea and reminding us of the great work our emergency service teams carry out alongside the beacon of safety that is Hook Lighthouse. The are also opportunities to explore the watchroom and tower and learn about technology and navigation at our lighthouse in times gone by and today.

 

The guided tour at the ancient lighthouse also shines a light on its history and heritage with first hand stories of life as a lightkeeper shared via recordings of these tales from former lighthouse keepers and their wives.

 

The Shine A Light festival takes place in conjunction with the Great Lighthouses of Ireland, ‘Shine a Light’ events over the May bank holiday weekend whereby 12 lighthouses around Ireland including Hook Lighthouse will shine a light and celebrate and share the rich tradition and work that they of carry out daily.

 

Also taking place on the Hook Peninsula over the weeeknd is the annual ‘Hike to the Hook’ event organised by Hook Tourism, walkers will take on a 20km walk along one of Ireland’s most scenic routes from Tintern Abbey to Hook Lighthouse.

 

Tours are on offer at Hook Lighthouse 7 days a week, visitors to the 800 year old Lighthouse can take a step back in time on a guided tour and meet St. Dubhan and his fifth Century Monks who first established the beacon at the Hook Peninsula. Meet the greatest Knight that ever lived William Marshall and hear the stories from the Lightkeepers and their families who for well over 100 years were stationed on site protecting all of those at sea.  For all of the festival details in Wexford see www.hookheritage.ie and for details on the Great Lighthouses of Ireland see www.greatlighthouses.com

 

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