Inisheer Lighthouse (Fardurris Point)

The Aran Islands mark the South Eastern entrance to Galway Bay and the port of Galway.
The first lighthouse on the Aran Islands was built in 1818 on Inishmore however it soon became apparent that it was poorly positioned.
In 1850 the Galway Harbour Commissioners asked the Ballast Board to construct a new lighthouse at the north west end of the islands. From this request it was decided that two lighthouses should be constructed at each end of the islands, one being Inisheer and the other the Eeragh lighthouse.
Both lights were designed by George Halpin Junior and work commenced in 1853 however the lights were not commissioned until 1st December 1857. The Inisheer light was fitted with a first order optic supplied by Chance Brothers of Smethwick near Birmingham.
The Inisheer lighthouse and associated buildings cost £14,252.2s.4d. equivalent to a cost of nearly £1.5 million in 2021.
In 1913 an incandescent lamp powered by paraffin was installed and the light's characteristic was changed from fixed to flashing every ten seconds.
Inisheer was automated and electrified in 1978 but retained it's Chance optic until 2014 when it was replaced by an LED light with a reduced range.
The lighthouse tower and keeper's houses are listed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and is noted as a masterpeice of ashlar limestone construction