Blackrock Island (Mayo)

Blackrock
Blackrock Island
Geography
Location Off coast of County Mayo, Ireland
Coordinates 54°04′01″N 10°19′14″W / 54.0669°N 10.3205°W / 54.0669; -10.3205
Length 0.4 km (0.25 mi)
Width 0.25 km (0.155 mi)
Highest point 82 metres (269 ft) (approximate)
Administration
IRL
Demographics
Population Uninhabited
Blackrock (Mayo) Lighthouse[1][2]
Location Blackrock Island, Off coast of County Mayo, Ireland
Coordinates 54°4′0.67″N 10°19′12.66″W / 54.0668528°N 10.3201833°W / 54.0668528; -10.3201833Coordinates: 54°4′0.67″N 10°19′12.66″W / 54.0668528°N 10.3201833°W / 54.0668528; -10.3201833
Year first constructed 1864
Year first lit 1864
Automated 1974
Construction local stone from island
Tower shape round rower
Markings / pattern white
Height 15 metres (49 ft)
Focal height 86 metres (282 ft)
Range W 20 nautical miles (37 km), R 16 nautical miles (30 km)
Characteristic Fl WR 12s
Admiralty number A6270
NGA number 7388
ARLHS number IRE-010
Managing agent Commissioners of Irish Lights

Blackrock Island (54°4′0.67″N 10°19′12.66″W / 54.0668528°N 10.3201833°W / 54.0668528; -10.3201833; Irish: An Tor) is a rocky island rising to a height of 70 meters above sea level and located northwest of Achill Island approximately 12 miles west of Blacksod Bay.[3] Typical rainfall is 72 inches per annum, and the island is often shrouded in mist.[4] It is visible from near the Glosh Tower on the Mullet Peninsula, with reference to the other islands in the area, is sometimes described as the "one that looks like a volcano".[5]

There is a small rocky islet 125m to the east with a length of 80m. There are about five rocky islets including Fish Rock, Carrickaduff and Carrackabrown spread 1km to 2km in a generally westwards direction.

Waters around Blackrock Island

The waters around Blackrock Island are noted for large ocean swells and waves, as evidenced by the difficulties faced in relieving the lighthouse keepers and with Rescue 116 helicopter wreckage recovery in 2017.[6] Water depths descend to 40m within a kilometer of the island, with depths of 60m and lower more typical towards Achill Island.[7] The Blackrock grounds are popular with sea anglers due to the attracting of larger fish species: Blue Shark; Porbeagle;Halibut and Bluefin tuna.[8][9][10]

Blackrock Lighthouse

The lighthouse on Blackrock Island was constructed in 1864. It is a 50 foot high round stone tower with lantern and gallery attached to a single storey keeper's house. The lighthouse is painted white. It is one of Ireland's most remote lighthouses and the most westerly lighthouse off the Mayo Coast. It was converted to unmanned in 1974 after which the island became uninhabited. The lighthouse was converted to solar power in 1999.[1][4] The resident lighthouse keeper of Blacksod Lighthouse on the mainland, which is still manned, is also responsible for maintaining the Blackrock lighthouse. Inspection and maintenance visits are periodically made by helicopter (via a helipad on the island), the only way to get to the island on a regular basis. In order to accommodate work-crews on extended maintenance and repair jobs at the lighthouse, one of the old keepers houses has been restored.[2]

Accidents and incidents associated with the island

Loss of lighthouse keeper Patrick Monaghan

In September 1937 the then lighthouse-keeper, Patrick Monaghan, was swept from the lighthouse by a freak wave. The visit of his descendents to the island is described in the RTÉ radio documentary 'Good Day at Blackrock'.[11]

Attack by German bomber in 1940

On 20 August 1940, a German bomber attacking the SS Macville which was passing close to the island damaged several lantern panes and the roof.[12][1] A Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor of Kampfgeschwader 40 was claimed to have dropped two SD250 bombs and damaged a freighter southwest of Blacksod (possibly the SS Macville) on this date,[13] with other sources confirming damage (though no confirmed casualties) to the SS Macville.[14][15]

Stranding of Lighthouse Keepers in the Winter of 1942-1943[6]

Three lighthouse keepers were stranded on Blackrock Island in the winter of 1942-42 during the Emergency in World War II. Storms were particularly ferocious in this period and the landing stage and associated derricks were destroyed in the gales. The keepers, who normally expected to be supplied every 10 days, initially started with reduced supplies due to being subject to rationing in the emergency were at points critically low on supplies. Captain John Padden at considerable risk made several resupply attempts and supply baskets on a few occasions were successfully thrown to the island. On February 17th, 1943 in a short lull he was able to relieve Walter Coupe(117 days) and Michael O'Conner(~ 90 days). Jsck Scott the principal keeper remained to direct recovery operations.

2017 Irish Coast Guard Rescue 116 crash

On March 14th, 2017 the Irish coast guard Rescue R116 helicopter impacted the island with the wreckage coming to rest in 40m of water south west of the island with four persons lost.

Omission of Blackrock Island from terrain databases

The preliminary report of the Air Accident Investigation Unit had found that (as of March 2017) Blackrock Island had been omitted or had an incorrect and significantly lower height in some terrain and obstacle databases.[16][17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Tourism / Our Lighthouses / Black Rock (Mayo)". Retrieved 2017-03-26.
  2. 1 2 Rowlett, Russ (2009-11-05). "Lighthouses of Western Ireland (Ulster and Connacht)". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
  3. ↑ "Le Blackrock Mayo". Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  4. 1 2 "Lighthouse may be automated but life on the rock is a must". Irish Times. 1999-02-01. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  5. ↑ "Blackrock Light, Mayo". 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  6. 1 2 "The siege of Blackrock Lighthouse". 2017. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  7. ↑ "Online chart viewer". Marine Navigation App. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  8. ↑ "Fishing in Ireland". 2009. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  9. ↑ Dunlop, Norman. "A GUIDE TO SEA ANGLING IN THE NORTH WESTERN FISHERIES REGION" (PDF). p. 38.
  10. ↑ Walsh, David (2014-03-01). Oileáin – 2nd Edition: The Irish Islands Guide (2nd ed.). Pesda Press. pp. 163–164. ISBN 9781906095376. F483-156. Retrieved 2017-04-02.
  11. ↑ "Good Day At Blackrock". RTE. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  12. ↑ "Lighting The Emerald Isle: IRISH LIGHTHOUSES". Lake Effect Living. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  13. ↑ Fw 200 Condor Units of World War 2. Osprey Publishing. 2016-08-16. p. 89. ISBN 9781472812674.
  14. ↑ WORLD WAR II SEA WAR Volume 2: FRANCE FALLS, BRITAIN STANDS ALONE: Day-to-Day Naval Actions from April 1940 through September 1940. Bertke Publications. 2011-07-01. ISBN 9781937470005.
  15. ↑ "General Cargo Ship MACVILLE". Retrieved 2017-03-23.
  16. ↑ Schiller, Robin (14 April 2017). "Island 'obstacle' was not on crew's warning system". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  17. ↑ "Sikorsky S-92A, EI-ICR Black Rock, Co. Mayo, Ireland 14 March 2017 PRELIMINARY REPORT" (PDF). AAUI. 13 April 2017. p. 15. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
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