A group of amateur radio operators from across the Mid-West Region will mark the 170th anniversary of Loop Head Lighthouse this weekend by communicating from the West Clare landmark via radio with hundreds of radio clubs and individuals worldwide using voice, Morse code and data systems.
The Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club last year successfully contacted lighthouses and lightships as far away as Brazil, Australia, Asiatic Russia, the US Virgin Islands and Japan, with most of the radio contacts being made with operators in the United States, Germany and Italy. Approximately two thirds of the overall communication was conducted via voice with the remaining third being conducted via Morse code.
During the operation from midnight on Friday 16 August to midnight on Sunday 18 August, visitors to the popular tourism landmark will be able to listen-in to communications with some of the other participating radio operators broadcasting from 500 other lighthouses and lightships in 65 countries.
Clare County Council, along and the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL), is facilitating the broadcast operation while the Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club also has received approval from Ireland’s Communications Regulator, ComReg. The call sign used will be E I 0 L H L and the broadcast also will coincide with of the 27th annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity once again to establish an amateur radio station at the lighthouse on the edge of the Loop Head Peninsula in an effort to achieve long distance communications with regions in Asia, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand and throughout Europe” commented Dermot Gleeson, Chairman of the Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club.
“We will be informing anyone whom we establish radio contact with that we are operating from a Signature Discovery Point on the Wild Atlantic Way and one of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland. Our club members, who come from Clare, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary, are happy to play their part in promoting these wonderful tourism initiatives,” he added.
Mr. Gleeson pointed out that Loop Head Lighthouse is particularly suitable for long distance radio communications attempts due to its isolated location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and, critically, the lack of radio interference in the general area.
He continued, “A special QSL Card (confirmation of communication) has been designed to mark the event. The Club will operate two stations, one of which will be at the entrance to the Lighthouse so that members of the public can listen to some of the transmissions. Our club members are looking forward to taking part in the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend and all we need now is good weather for what will be a very enjoyable weekend.”
Simon Day, Acting Head of Operations for Clare County Council at Loop Head Lighthouse said: “We are delighted to be able to once again facilitate members of the Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club, who have helped to further raise the profile of Loop Head Lighthouse through their conversations over the airwaves with fellow amateur radio operators internationally”.
He added: “The International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is a wonderful mechanism for connecting and promoting the shared maritime heritage of countries throughout the world. It also serves to further promote the Great Lighthouses of Ireland initiative and the special interest among the wider community in lighthouses. We wish the members of Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club the very best of luck this weekend”.
Meanwhile, Loop Head Lighthouse marks 170 years with a special programme of events on August 25th next.
The upcoming anniversary celebration will begin at 12.30pm and will be opened by Chair of West Clare Municipal District, Councillor Rita Mc Inerney. The itinerary for the day includes talks on the Lighthouse, Lighthouse Keepers and Local Area by Stephen Rowan and Martin Gleeson (1.00pm-2.00pm), and a talk by Dr. Simon Berrow of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group talk about the dolphins and whales that can be regularly seen around the Loop Head Peninsula (12.30-1.00pm). There also will be traditional Irish music, a scything exhibition, energetic yoga (2.00-2.30pm) and relaxing yoga (3.30-4.00pm) with Retreat Yourself, an introduction to Kettlebells with Jane Graham (2.45-3.15pm), and an opportunity to meet Alpacas from the nearby Flying Alpaca Farm.
Loop Head Lighthouse, located at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary, is steeped in history and rich in maritime heritage with its origins dating back to the 1670s. The existing tower style lighthouse was constructed in 1854 and was operated and maintained by a keeper who lived within the lighthouse compound. In January 1991, the lighthouse was converted to automatic operation. Minister for Rural & Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD recently visited the attraction to officially mark the completion of upgrade works, including the restoration and conservation of the historic lighthouse keeper’s cottages and a new visitor hub with interpretation panels featuring stories from the local area.
Free entry to the exhibition centre and compound will be provided during the 170th anniversary celebration on August 25th. A charge will apply for the guided tours of the lighthouse. See www.loopheadlighthouse.ie for more. Further information on the annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is available from www.limerickradioclub.ie and www.illw.net.
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