If walls could talk: Landmark on the Shannon

ITS appearance is like no other lighthouse in Ireland, as the rock is only visible at low tide, the tower and dwelling house give the impression that the building is floating on water’ exclaimed a writer in the Irish Independent in 1933.

Notifying the public of its intention to construct the lighthouse, the Ballast Office in Dublin advised that ‘it will be a fixed light of natural appearance – bright as seen from the channel, over the top of the attached dwelling the tower is circular.’

Built between 1847 and 1855, the lighthouse on Beeves Rock has been safely guiding shipping in the Shannon Estuary ever since.

As early as 1813, Limerick Corporation granted a lease of 999 years to the Ballast Office for the purpose of erecting a beacon or tower on Beeves Rock for the safety and protection of shipping accessing Limerick Port.

Such an installation was required as shipping was often driven up on the rocks as was the case in May 1824 when the Nelly of Glasgow met such a fate.

The ship was reported to be full of water. A few years later another tragedy occurred when a sailboat crashed into Beeves Rock with the loss of several persons, some of whose bodies were never recovered. Similarly, in January 1828, the Johns, a turf boat, was wrecked beside the Rock leading to the loss of three brothers.

Such a list of tragedies led to the need for a more permanent structure on the Rock to prevent needless losses both to life and property.

In 1829, following calls by Thomas Steele Esq., the Chamber of Commerce endorsed plans to erect a lighthouse on Beeve’s Rock.

Steele (1788–1848) was an engineer and political activist, born in 1788 at Derrymore, Co. Clare.

He took a keen interest in the commercial affairs of Limerick and was widely known for his efforts to increase trade in the city by encouraging the development of maritime infrastructure, publishing, in 1828: ‘Practical Suggestions for improving navigation on the Shannon.’ The value of the essay was recognised by the London Institution of Civil Engineers.

Aside from natural disasters associated with Beeves Rock, violent attacks on shipping were not rare occurrences. For example, in January 1831, the ships, the Susan and the Olive, were attacked by two small boats when sailing out from Limerick Port.

The attack, which happened at Beeves Rock resulted in the mainsail of the Olive being perforated by gunshots.

The boats’ crew boarded both ships and demanded arms and ammunition, when neither were forthcoming, they violently attacked the crews before returning to their boats. The Limerick Chronicle described the attack as a ‘most daring outrage.’

As the century wore on, shipping continued to be lost at Beeves Rock including the Cicero of Liverpool in 1837, and the Abigail of the same city in 1843.

New men’s shed established in Limerick town

The Limerick Bridge Commissioners discussed the advantages of erecting a tower on Beeves Rock in 1845, but a member of that body, Harvey Todhunter argued that a lighthouse would be better placed on Scattery Island.

Once again, a decision was adjourned. Finally, in 1847 the Chamber of Commerce announced that ‘a lighthouse on Beeve’s Rock is to be immediately built, some twenty years after Thomas Steele had suggested it.’

In August, Steele visited the site just as work commenced, there he met George Halpin (1779-1854) who designed the lighthouse.

Halpin’s other lighthouses include Balbriggan, Fastnet, Haulbowline, Old Head of Kinsale, Poolbeg, Valentia Island, Wicklow Head and Youghal.

During the building of the lighthouse, a vessel making its way down river observed several people stranded on the Rock. The captain directed that a boat be lowered, and the people rescued.

It transpired that five families had ventured out to retrieve seaweed in the hope of selling it to raise funds to feed themselves.

They had been cut off by high tides and strong winds. The families were put ashore at Tarbert after receiving food and water by the crew of the Erin go Bragh.

This story serves as a reminder of the tragedy of the Great Famine.

The tender for building the lighthouse was awarded to William Charles Burgess. The cost was in the region of £6,000 (approximately £500,000 in today’s money).

Burgess was a prolific builder, and his other projects included the workhouses in Kildysart, Co. Clare, Glenties, Co. Donegal, and Mitchelstown, Co. Cork.

He was originally from England. His timber yard was situated in Upper Cecil Street.

By October of 1848, Burgess had begun drawing stones to the Rock in advance of building works scheduled for May 1849.

In August of the same year, a group of individuals led by George Halpin and William Charles Burgess did a tour of lighthouses on the Shannon including Loophead, Carrigaholt, Kilcredaun, Tarbert, and Beeves Rock which was in ‘a very forward state of completion.’

Burgess also owned “Lansdowne Cottage” on the North Circular Road, later rebuilt and now known as “Derravoher” and part of Villier’s School grounds.

On 23 December 1850, the Beeves Rock lighthouse was declared completed. William Charles Burgess died on 13 March 1857.
Beeves Rock was automated in 1933.

It has been under the authority of the Limerick Harbour Commissioners since 1981 and continues to guide vessels away from dangerous rocks that have claimed the lives of sailors for many centuries.

Dr Paul O’Brien lectures at Mary Immaculate College.