Mull of Galloway Lighthouse
International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend is an annual event and intends to raise the profile of lighthouses, light vessels and other navigational aids to promote our maritime heritage.
Many lighthouses around the world will be open to the public and will be hosting special events.
International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend ILLW
In 1995 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW) was founded by the Amateur Radio Club in Ayr. This involved radio enthusiasts from all around the world transmitting from a lighthouse and it has been an annual event since then. Over the years the event has grown and around 50 countries and 450 lighthouses and lightships participate each year.
In 2002 the Association of Lighthouse Keeper’s decided to run the heritage weekend to coincide with the amateur radio groups with the aim of opening as many lighthouses as possible to the public.
The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse Heritage Weekend Event
During the weekend of 15th and 16th August 2015 the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse will be open to the public from 10am until 4pm. We participate in the Association of Lighthouse Keepers Passport Scheme and passports can be purchased from the exhibition and stamped as a record of your visit.
There will also be a series of talks throughout the weekend, which are free of charge to attend and booking is not necessary. (Spaces are limited so please arrive early). The talks will take place in the RSPB Visitor Centre at the Mull of Galloway. For contact details and our Google map click here. The Post Code is DG9 9HP for Sat Nav purposes. For further information please send us an email.
History Chat
We are very pleased to announce that on Saturday 15th August from 1pm until 2.30pm we will have John Ross CBE FRAgS, Commissioner of Northern Lighthouse Board chatting with two former lighthouse keepers about their life and work as keepers at various lighthouses throughout Scotland and the Isle of Man.
You are invited along to join in with the chat and listen as the keepers tell us about their work including the maintenance of the light and keeping the light and reflectors clean. There will be many other stories to tell including the running aground in 1982 of the Craigantlet container ship at Killantringan Lighthouse, a wild swim around Bell Rock Lighthouse and the rodent problem on Ailsa Craig.
U Boat, Shipping Losses along the Wigtownshire Coast during WW1
Sunday 16th August from 11am until 12 noon we have Julia MacDonald, Local Historian joining us with the story of the U-Boat Alley in the Irish Sea off the coast of Wigtownshire. Details of the ships lost, the U-boats and the men – as well as details of the regular sailings between Stranraer and Larne during the First World War.
The History of Northern Lighthouse Board and the role it plays today
Sunday 16th August from 1pm to 2pm join John Ross CBE FRAgS, Commissioner of Northern Lighthouse Board for a presentation about the history and the role of the Northern Lighthouse Board. The Northern Lighthouse Board is the General Lighthouse Authority for Scotland and the Isle of Man.
“Life and Death on Little Ross”
Sunday 16th August from 2.30 to 3.30pm – join retired architect David R. Collin, DA(Edin), FSA Scot who will tell us about the lives of the keepers and their families on Ross Island, near Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway. The talk will draw attention to the quiet and peaceful times enjoyed there by almost all of them but also, inevitably, describe the tragic murder that occurred there in 1960. The story will also cover the island post-automation.
RSPB
There will be guided walks on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August at 1pm with RSPB. Meet at the RSPB Visitor Centre at 1pm. The charge is £3 for adults, under 16’s are free and RSPB members are half price.
Gallie Craig
Look out for pirates, scallywags, salty sea dogs and high seas buccaneers in Gallie Craig coffee house. There will be swashbuckling fun with the cap’n and quarter master and hearty pirate lunch boxes. Try your luck with the pirate treasure chest lucky dip for booty and riches with all the loot being donated to Drummore Primary school.
More information will be added to this event as it develops so please keep checking back fo more information. We look forward to seeing you for International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend. You can also follow the event on Facebook.