
Hook Lighthouse
The world’s oldest original operational lighthouse will join the National Culture Night celebrations in Ireland on Friday, September 21. The 846-year-old Hook Lighthouse in Co. Wexford will offer free guided tours of the medieval tower at 6 pm, 7 pm and 8 pm. Places on these tours must be booked in advance on www.hookheritage.ie
There will be a 45-minute tour of the medieval tower with insights and stories of times gone by with some help from a number of historical characters along the way. Having climbed the well worn 115 steps of the tower visitors will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the South East coast of Ireland from the balcony at the top of the lighthouse at the entrance to Waterford harbour. Hook Lighthouse, which with the nearby village of Crooke in Co. Waterford is said to have given rise to the expression “by hook or by crook” , was built by William Marshal, the Earl of Pembroke, who built Tintern Abbey and Kilkenny Castle.