Clare Island, is the largest of the Clew Bay islands in County Mayo. One of the major attractions of the island is the lighthouse built by John Denis Browne in 1806. Despite the fire that destroyed part of the tower in 1813, it was rebuilt in 1818. Well, the cylindrical construction is 118 meters high and 11 wide. It took 159 years, it ran in 1965, before building the modern lighthouse on the islet of Achillbeg, a town a few meters off Achill Island. Currently the lighthouse houses a splendid Bed & breakfast, easily reachable by one of the ferries that depart daily from Roonagh Pier, near Louisburgh.
Clare Island Lighthouse History
Clare Island Lighthouse is a historic home located on the northernmost point of the pristine island of Clare in County Mayo. The lighthouse was erected in 1806 by the Marquis of Sligo and did his duty for 7 years, until a fire in September 1813 destroyed the lantern and most of the tower. The new lantern tower was built in 1818. The lighthouse was dismantled in 1965 because, ironically, it is so high with its height of 118 m it was often wrapped in the mist of the cliffs.
After 4 years of complete restoration, the Clare Island lighthouse was opened as a historic home in May 2013 offering accommodation for 12 people in 6 separate rooms with private bathrooms designed and carefully furnished individually, some in the main building and others in the outbuildings .
Guests enjoy socializing and socializing in the welcoming warmth of the kitchen, lounge and library.
The goal of the lighthouse kitchen is to prepare locally sourced foods, full of freshness and flavor, served in a simple and delicious way.
Guests receive a rich home-cooked breakfast that prepares them for the activities of the chosen day.
In the evening, dinner is a set menu depending on seasonal availability, daily local catch or the best cuts recommended by the local butcher.
Along with the evening dinner, Clare Island Lighthouse offers a wide selection of European wines.
After a quiet and peaceful night, you will be ready to explore the rich natural and historical heritage of the island of Clare, on foot or by bicycle. With its 120 meters high cliffs, its mountains whitewashed by winter snowfall and surrounded by the blue and rough sea, it offers one of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe.