THE last full-time lightkeepers on the Irish coastline will next week celebrate their final Christmas at Howth's Baily on Dublin Bay.
Principal keeper, Mr Eugene O'Sullivan (56), began his training there more than 35 years ago, and will end his career on Howth Head early next year, when the lighthouse becomes automated.
From a family of lightkeepers in Greencastle, Co Donegal, Mr O'Sullivan has now built his last ship in a bottle. "I'm going to make the best of it now," he told The Irish Times, commenting on his impending redundancy. "At least, I'll be able to fit in a few games of golf."
Had he the choice, he would have continued until he was 60, because lightkeeping is in his blood.
His father, D.J., was a well-known poet. His brothers, Donal and Hugh, have both been in the service. Donal is now assistant keeper for Tory Island and Inishtrahull, off Donegal.
With Mr O'Sullivan at the Baily last week was a second cousin, Tony O'Leary, who is a fifth-generation keeper.
Mr O'Sullivan and Mr O'Leary bare due to go off duty on Christmas Eve, and will be replaced by the second principal keeper, Mr John Noel Crowley from Raheny, Dublin, and Mr Anthony Burke from, Midleton, Co Cork. The third staff member on the roster, is Mr Paul O'Connell, a temporary keeper and also from Raheny on the northside.
Replacing a coal-burning beacon established in 1668, the Baily was built in 1814 and is the second-oldest light on the east coast.
