Baltimore Beacon
Navigational beacon in Baltimore, County Cork From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Baltimore Beacon is a white-painted stone beacon positioned high above the channel between the mainland and Sherkin Island near the entrance to the harbour at Baltimore, County Cork, Ireland.
| Baltimore Beacon | |
|---|---|
 Beacon with Sherkin Island and its lighthouse visible in distance | |
 | |
| Type | navigational beacon |
| Location | Baltimore, County Cork |
| Coordinates | 51.47360°N 9.38779°W |
| Built | 1848 |
The structure is approximately 50 feet (15 m) high and 15 feet (4.6 m) in diameter at the base, and is situated on the top of a cliff, itself 160 feet (49 m) in height.[1] It is built of rubble stone into a tapered conical shape with a red-painted spherical metal finish on the top.[2] It constitutes part of a series of lighthouses and beacons dotted around the Irish coast to assist in marine navigation.
The beacon is locally known as "Lot's Wife",[2] after the Biblical woman turned into a pillar of salt.[3] The beacon has become a recognizable part of Baltimore's landscape, and one of the area's defining landmarks.[2][1] The structure is featured on photographs and paintings of Baltimore. Southern Star newspaper's column with news from Baltimore and the area was titled "From Baltimore Beacon".[4] Local businesses adopted the beacon as a part of its name, with a notable example of Baltimore's now defunct Beacon Park Hotel. The feature is an attraction for tourists and day trip visitors, and "there is no end of people who get engaged",[1] and even married[5] there.
The beacon was built in 1848 after it had been noticed that an older warning beacon existing at the entrance of the Baltimore Harbour went into ruin.[6]
The wreck of a 17-century ship HMS Looe lies at the base of the beacon cliff.[6]
The decision to declassify the beacon as a navigational tool caused confusion in the 2010s as to who is the actual owner and as such should maintain the beacon, and in particular re-paint it in white.[7]
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