Not content with being the oldest lighthouse in Ireland, Hook Lighthouse is also the oldest still-operational lighthouse in the world.
You’ll find it at the tip of the Hook Peninsula and it’s arguably the most notable stop on the Ring of Hook Drive.
Below, you’ll find info on everything from what to expect and when it’s open to info on the Hook Lighthouse tours.
Some quick need-to-knows about Hook Lighthouse
Although a visit to the oldest lighthouse in Ireland is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. Location
You’ll find the lighthouse on the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford. It’s a 15-minute drive from Fethard-on-Sea, a 40-minute drive from New Ross, a 45-minute drive from Kilmore Quay and a 50-minute drive from Wexford Town.
2. Opening hours
Hook Lighthouse is open from July to August, 9:30am-6pm, and September to June, 9:30am-5pm.
3. Admission
The guided Hook Lighthouse tours cost €12 for an adult and €10 for a concession ticket. There’s a mix of family tickets on offer:
- Family (1 adult + 1 child): €16
- Family (1 adult + 2 children): €20
- Family (2 adults + 1 child): €26
- Family (2 adults + 2 children): €30
- Family (2 adults + 3 children): €34
The history of Hook Head Lighthouse
The history of Hook Lighthouse is an interesting one and the story all began during the 5th century when a Welsh monk by the name of Dubhán founded a monastery around 1.6 km north of Hook Head.
It’s said that Dubhán set up a beacon at Hook Point (this may have been a pile of stones with burning timber sat on top of it) to act as a navigational light for ships entering the nearby harbour.
The first lighthouse at Hook Head
Many years later, between 1170 and 1182, a Norman named Raymond LeGros landed at Baginbun (a headland in Wexford) where he found the remains of a Celtic fort.
After some time, LeGros constructed another fort. From this point, he battled and beat the Irish advance from Waterford.
LeGros was later slain, but it’s said by some that he left his mark on the area by constructing the first Tower of Hook, around 1172.
Another theory is that the first Hook Head Lighthouse was built by a chap named William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, in 1245.
Monks and shipwrecks
The Hook Lighthouse (it was just a tower at this point) was placed in the hands of a group of monks and they kept it ticking over until civil war arrived in 1641.
During this time little-to-nothing was done to maintain the beacon and shipwrecks at Hook Head became the norm.
Mariners spent many years trying to convince the Governor of Duncannon Fort to help re-establish the beacon at Hook.
It wasn’t until 1667 that Hook Lighthouse was finally re-established, and the waters surrounding it were made safe once again.
Falling into disrepair
During 1704, Hook Head Lighthouse was transferred to the Revenue Commissioners by Queen Anne.
The lighthouse wasn’t taken over for some time, as Henry Loftus, the owner of the supposedly haunted Loftus Hall, had a 21-year lease on it.
The lighthouse passed to Henry’s son, who had a dispute with the Revenue Commissioners over the renewal of the lease.
It’s said that in 1726 he made a threat to extinguish the light unless rent was paid in advance by Revenue. The disagreement went on for two long years. Over the years Hook tower started to fall into disrepair.
It wasn’t until 1791 when Revenue granted a contract to maintain and staff Hook Point along with a number of other lighthouses in Ireland.
A new lease of life
A new lantern was later installed along with 12 Argand oil lamps. This was enhanced later, in 1812 and again in 1864.
A new lantern and fixed dioptric lens were installed and the lighthouse at Hook tipped on as strong as ever.
In 1871, the oil lamps were replaced by coal gas. This lasted for just under 30 years. In 1910, a revolving focal distance optic replaced the dioptric lens.
Coal gas was given the boot, with vaporised paraffin taking its place. Many years later, in 1972, electricity took over.
Recent years at the historic Wexford lighthouse
Hook Lighthouse was equipped with a radar beacon recently enough, in 1974. This signalled the coming-of-the-end to the ‘old’ way in which lighthouses were run in Ireland.
3 years later, in 1977, Lightkeepers families were removed from lighthouses across Ireland. 6 keepers were assigned to the lighthouse at Hook, with three on duty at any one time.
The end of the lighthouse keeper post at Hook arrived in 1996 when the last keepers were withdrawn.
In January 2009, Automatic Identification System functionality was introduced to Hook Head Lighthouse.
Things to do at Hook
I’ve visited Hook Lighthouse several times over the years. If you arrive on a fine day, there’s plenty to do.
If you arrive when it’s lashing down, you’re a little more limited. Here are some suggestions:
1. Take a guided tour
If you want to go inside the lighthouse, you’ll need to pay to get on a guided tour. I did this tour about 8 or 9 years ago, and it was brilliant.
The Hook Lighthouse tours are led by local tour guides who’ll fascinate you with the areas rich history.
Visitors will pass through the lighthouse chambers and hear about those who inhabited the structure over the years.
The tour climaxes at the balcony, where there’s a magnificent view of the surrounding countryside.
2. Head for a ramble along the coast
The last time that I visited Hook was during the summer of 2018, and the sun was blazing.
We dodged the tour on this occasion, grabbed a cup of coffee and headed off on a ramble along the coast.
If you’re looking for walks in Wexford that’ll banish the cobwebs, get yourself here – it gets wild around here!
Places to visit nearby
One of the beauties of Hook Head is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Wexford.
Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Hook!
1. The Ring of Hook (start at the lighthouse)
The Ring of Hook Drive can be kicked-off from Hook Lighthouse.
Over the course of the route (map here), you’ll visit everywhere from Duncannon Fort and Tintern Abbey to towns, villages and beaches.
2. Loftus Hall (10-minute drive)
Loftus Hall is said to be one of the most haunted houses in Ireland.
The property used to do tours, but it stopped in 2020 and the house was sold in 2021.
While you can’t go inside, it’s an impressive building to view from afar.
3. Beaches galore (5 minutes + drive)
The Hook Peninsula is home to some of the finest beaches in Wexford.
The beautiful Dollar Bay and Booley Bay are both a handy 10-minute drive away.
Another is Baginbun Beach, a short 15-minute spin away and Duncannon Beach, just 20 minutes away.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.