Old Head of Kinsale

From Wikipedia: long history of the point being used as a beacon for warning or navigation. The point was protected by a 13th century castle that was built and owned for a while by my ancestor Milo de Courcy.

The 1907 tower was the final tower of a long history going back to 17th century. The lighthouse is famous being the closest in proximity to the sinking of the Lusitania in WW1 (2015). In 1972 the paraffin lamp was replaced by electricity and the range increased to 25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi). Between 1974 and 1992 a radio beacon was transmitted. In 1987 the lighthouse was converted to automatic operation. In 2005 the range was reduced to 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi).

In January 2009 an AIS station was established. In 1989 the developers, the Kerry-born O'Connor brothers, John and Patrick, bought the 216-acre promontory for £212,500 after it had been on the market for several years. A Golf course opened for play in 1997, laid out on the narrow headland, jutting out for two miles into the Atlantic Ocean. The course and facilities take up to 180 acres leaving the remaining 40 acres of cliffs to frame the course. In 2001 it was converted to a private golf and athletic club, by Donald Kenney, a central Ohio (USA) developer.

In 2010, the initiation fee for international memberships at the club was $73,000, with annual dues of $3,600. Nonmember greens fees started at $430. The course's 15 guest suites start at $510 per night. In other words, inaccessible to all but the richest people. At this point (2001), access to the lighthouse and its surrounds by the public ceased. The Head of Kinsale lies at the end of the Wild Atlantic Way, but the end of the journey cannot be reached (see picture of the map)