Rathlin O'Birne facts for kids
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Native name:
Reachlainn Uí Bhirn
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 Rathlin O'Birne
Location in island of Ireland
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| Geography | |
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 54°39.816′N 8°49.951′W / 54.663600°N 8.832517°W |
| Administration | |
| Province | Ulster |
| County | Donegal |
| Demographics | |
| Population | (0) |
Rathlin O'Birne (in Irish, Reachlainn Uí Bhirn) is a small island located off the coast of County Donegal, Ireland. You can find it southwest of Glencolumbkille and about 2 kilometers west of Malin Beg. It is a quiet, uninhabited island in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Rathlin O'Birne Lighthouse
The Rathlin O'Birne lighthouse started shining its light on April 14, 1856. Lighthouses are important buildings that guide ships safely past dangerous coastlines. They help sailors know where they are and avoid hitting rocks.
How the Lighthouse Gets Power
Over the years, the Rathlin O'Birne lighthouse has used different ways to power its light. In 1974, it became special because it used a new type of power. This was from a Radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG). An RTG creates electricity from the heat of special materials. This made it Ireland's first lighthouse to use such a power source.
However, by 1987, the RTG was not producing enough power. So, the lighthouse changed to using wind power. Large wind turbines captured energy from the strong winds off the coast. This worked until 1991. After that, the lighthouse was updated again to use solar power. Solar panels now collect energy from the sun to keep the light shining brightly.
Getting to the Lighthouse
There is a special road on the island that leads from the beach to the lighthouse. This road has strong cut stone walls on both sides. These walls were built to protect the lighthouse keepers. They kept the keepers safe as they walked across the island to do their important work.
