Rock Island (Ireland) facts for kids
Rock Island (Irish: Oileán na Carraige) is a piece of land that sticks out into the sea, almost like an island! It's located in West Cork, Ireland, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) south of the village of Goleen. Rock Island sits right at the entrance to the water inlet of Crookhaven. Even though it's called an "island," it's actually connected to the mainland by a small strip of land with a road. It's famous for its historic lighthouse and the interesting stories of its past.
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The Famous Crookhaven Lighthouse
The most important building on Rock Island is the Crookhaven Lighthouse. This lighthouse was built in 1843 to help guide ships safely into the natural harbour of Crookhaven. Before this, there was an older structure helping ships find their way.
Homes for Lighthouse Keepers
Around the lighthouse, you'll see nine small houses called cottages. These were built in the 1860s. They used to belong to the Irish Lighthouses, which is the group in charge of all the lighthouses in Ireland. These cottages were once home to the brave people who worked as lighthouse keepers and their families. They looked after not just the Crookhaven Lighthouse, but also the lights at Mizen Head and Fastnet Rock. Today, these lighthouses are fully automatic, meaning they don't need keepers anymore, and the cottages are now private holiday homes.
Rock Island's History
Rock Island has a long and interesting history, playing an important role in protecting Ireland's coast.
Old Coastguard Station
On the western side of Rock Island, there's a row of houses built in 1907. This used to be a coastguard station. Coastguards are like a special police force for the sea. They help rescue people, stop illegal activities, and keep an eye on the coastline. This station replaced even older buildings from the early 1800s. Back then, Crookhaven was a busy place for ships, but also for smuggling. Smuggling means secretly bringing things into or out of a country without paying taxes or following the rules.
The Watch Tower
Around the year 1800, a watch tower was built on Rock Island. This happened after a time when French ships tried to land in a place called Bantry in 1796. The watch tower was built to keep a lookout for any more ships that might try to invade Ireland. It was an important part of the country's defense system.
