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Description
Whet your appetite for the experience ahead in Fastnet
Hall. The entrance of Fastnet Hall
features a spectacular mosaic sculpture by The Ewe Sculpture Garden creator
Sheen Wood; it is entitled Water and Rock.
See a 10th scale model of Fastnet Rock, a wildlife collage by
Richard Mills, or a film entitled Local Keepers and the Irish Lights by Tish
Barry.
From here, he walk down to the signal station is about 10
minutes. The Mizen Head Fog Signal Station
was built in 1909 to help prevent the loss of life and shipping on the
rocks. Breathe the same fresh ocean air
as the station keepers and see the spectacular, neck-neck craning views. See and artistic tribute to the clever
engineering of the current Fastnet, reconstructed in granite between 1899-1903
for a cost of 84,000 euros. Walk down 99
stairs to cross The Arched Bridge.
Enter the keeper’s kitchen and bedroom, all retained in the
actual life of the men who lived there.
Check out the actual story and photographs of the rebuilding of Fastnet
Rock. The Signal Station is full of
maps, radio equipment, and weather forecasting data collected by the
keepers. It conveys an accurate sense of
the actual daily lives of the men.
After climbing back up those 99 steps, refresh in the Mizen
Cafe. They prepare fresh home baking,
French pressed coffee, and hot teas. Or
enjoy a toasted sandwich and a glass of wine.
How to get there
By car:
From Bantry, take the turn marked Crookhaven
R591. Travel through Durrus, taking a
left at the fork towards Goleen. Keep
going to the end of the road and turn right at the T-junction. Go all the way through Goleen and continue
until you see the sign for Mizen Head Drive.
Do not take the first turn to the right after the village; go straight
until you see the second sign.
From Skibbereen, follow the signs for N71 until you
reach Ballydehob. Go straight – do not
take the right turn for N71 at outskirts of Ballydehob). You will see signs for Mizen Head Drive. Follow the route R592 through Schull and
through Goleen; keep going until you see the sign for Mizen Head Drive. Do not
take the first turn to the right after the village; go straight until you see
the second sign.
By bus:
See www.buseireann.ie
website for all current travel details and restrictions.
Opening times
Mid – March, April, May, and October: open daily, 10:30AM –
5PM.
June to September: open daily, 10AM – 6PM.
November to mid-March: open weekends only, 11AM – 4PM.
Admission fees
Adult: 2.50 euro
OAP/Student: 1.75 euro
Children under 12: 1.25 euro
Children under 5: free
Family ticket (2 adults/3 children): 7.00 euro
Groups Less 10%
Address
Mizen Tourism Co-operative Society Ltd.
Harbour Road
Goleen, West Cork
Tel: 028 35591/35253
Email:
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Web: www.mizenhead.ie
My experience
The signal station keeper was full of wise cracks. On the way out, I asked him where he was
from. “Imagine the most self-centered,
conceited city in the world…” “Ah,” I
guessed right away, “you’re a New Yorker!”
“That’s right,” he said. I guess
he wants to be as close to New York as he can possibly get in Ireland.
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