Great Lighthouses Of Ireland
Great Lighthouses Of Ireland is a TV show on SBS ONE. The program has been available since 2025. A total of 8 episodes have been broadcast, most recently in July 2025.
Last episode
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50:30Great Lighthouses Of Ireland
Ireland's lighthouses are vital to the nation's survival. As an island nation, almost everything consumed from food, to electronics, fuel, and vehicles, arrives by sea. Lighthouses aid the safe passage of ships around the dangerous coastal waters. The story begins at Hook Head, ...
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Ever since they appeared on the Irish coast, lighthouses have been a source of fascination and inspiration for photographers and painters. Photographer Peter Cox shares some of his spectacular lighthouse photographs and explains his fascination with lighthouses. 50:07 Expired
Lighthouse technology is constantly evolving, ensuring that lights are as bright as possible for the safety of the mariner at sea. This episode explores the fascinating history of lighthouse optic engineering and ingenuity, from the basic oil burners and reflectors of the 1700s, to the invention of the Fresnel lens which d... 49:56 Expired
Ireland's coastline is notoriously rugged and treacherous, and over 18,000 shipwrecks have been recorded in Irish waters. Many of these wrecks occurred during the 19th century when ships became larger and faster: the sinking of the Queen Victoria on the rocks below the Baily Lighthouse, Co. Dublin is an infamous example. 49:31 Expired
Starting at the Fastnet off the Co. Cork coast, one of the world's finest lighthouses, James Morrissey, author of 'A History of the Fastnet lighthouse', explains how this engineering masterpiece was built. William Douglass designed the lighthouse, made from more than 2,000 individually carved, interlocking granite blocks w...Season 1
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In the final episode of the series, former lighthouse keeper Richard Foran makes a poignant return trip to the Skelligs lighthouse which was his final posting before the lighthouse was automated. Having worked for Irish Lights for fifty-two years in total, Richard reflects on his time at the Skelligs. Automation was truly... 51:16 Expired
In the third episode we discover the surprising roles that lighthouse keepers played in both World Wars. As the First World War raged around Ireland's coast, our lighthouse keepers acted as unofficial coastguards, keeping detailed logs of their observations. From sightings of German submarines, to the horror of ships being...
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In the second episode, we discover how Ireland became a world leader in lighthouse engineering. Often working in hostile and treacherous natural locations, Ireland's lighthouse engineers and builders used great ingenuity to achieve what seemed impossible.