Taoiseach Kenny to shine light on grandfather’s past

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will next month visit the Co Clare lighthouse where his grandfather was keeper in the 1920s and 30s.

Mr Kenny had accepted an invitation from Clare County Council to visit the Loophead Lighthouse in west Clare, which was opened to the public last summer for the fist time in its 341-year history.

The visit has been confirmed for Friday, May 18, a fortnight before the lighthouse reopens for the summer.

Located on the most westerly tip of Co Clare, the original Loop Head Lighthouse was built in the 1670s, while the existing tower-style construction was completed in 1854.

In Jan 1991, the lighthouse was converted to automatic operation and now is in the care of an attendant and monitored by the Commissioners of Irish Lights.

Local councillor Gabriel Keating said: “Opening up the lighthouse was the very first motion I put down as a newly elected councillor in 2009. It took two years to make it happen and it has been a much bigger success than anyone could have anticipated.

“The Taoiseach’s visit couldn’t come at a better time, as everyone is gearing up for what should be another great season at the lighthouse,” he said.

Records show that the Taoiseach’s grandfather, James McGinley, entered the lighthouse service in 1905, aged 25, and spent six months training at the Baily lighthouse in Howth, before being promoted to the position of assistant keeper on Rathlin O’Birne in Donegal.

In 1910, he was stationed on Beeves Rock in the Shannon Estuary and later, during the First World War, on Tuskar Rock off the Wexford coast.

Mr McGinley took up service as keeper at Loophead in 1922 before returning to Rathlin O’Birne for his final five-year posting in 1935, aged 55.

Almost 17,000 people visited the lighthouse during last summer’s trial opening, bringing an estimated €400,000 into the local economy.

Following on from the success of that 11-week trial, the historic landmark will reopen for a 12-week period from June, creating 12 seasonal jobs.

It is hoped that as many as 25,000 people will visit the iconic landmark this year.