Loop Head Lighthouse

Loop Head Lighthouse stands at the tip of the Loop Head Peninsula in County Clare, on the western edge of Ireland where the Shannon Estuary meets the Atlantic Ocean. Set on a dramatic clifftop headland, it is one of the country’s most striking coastal landmarks and forms part of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland trail.

There has been a warning light on this headland since 1670, when a coal-burning brazier was maintained on the cliff. A stone tower followed in 1802, and the present lighthouse was built in 1854 to a design by George Halpin. The light was changed from fixed to flashing in 1869, the station was electrified in 1971, and it was automated in 1991. Today the tower shows a white light that flashes four times every twenty seconds.

Visitors can take a guided tour that tells the story of the lighthouse and the keepers who worked here, with a climb up the tower to the balcony for views along the Clare coast towards the Cliffs of Moher, across the Shannon Estuary, and south to Kerry Head and Dingle. The exposed clifftop setting is also a good spot for watching seabirds and marine life. Tours and further details are available through the official website.