Home | Maritime Heritage Centre | Menu | Music | Kilmore Quay | Contact Us | Site Map | Links • The Idaho • The Lismore • The Shamrock II • The L.E. Muirchú • The Yacht 'Coronet' • Dry Card Compass • The Curraghgour II • The Foxwell • The Admiralty Buoy Light • The Isolda • The Jolie Brise • Gaff Rigged Vessels • The well dressed diver • The way we lived then... • Other items of interest Admiralty Buoy Light The World War II Admiralty Buoy Lights, which are mounted adjacent to the “Lifeboat Door” in a configuration resembling Leading Lights marking a harbour approach channel, are particularly interesting to a nautical historian. Prior to the Second World War, Trinity House (the UK equivalent of The Commissioners of Irish Lights) manufactured all buoy lights positioned around the coast of Britain. All buoy lights were stamped TH-L (for London), TH-H (for Harwich) and similarly for all locations. Thus a record was kept of the position of each light. In 1940, as a result of wartime action, Trinity House could no longer keep up with the quantity required so it was necessary to enlist the help of the Admiralty. The Admiralty assisted in the production from 1940 to 1946. At that point all Admiralty buoy lights were recalled and number 55 – the upper one of the leading lights – is one that was recalled. The Admiralty issue buoy light was made to the very highest standard. It was powered by a steel and brass burner fueled by purified acetylene and made in Sweden by Aga. The extremely efficient steel valve sent flashes at two-second intervals. This created the intermittent signal necessary. The burner was designed and patented by the Swedish engineer Gustov Dahlen. For this exceptional invention Mr. Dahlen was awarded a Nobel Prize and as further recognition his country named one of their most important lighthouses after him. The picture to the left of the buoy light depicts an actual Swedish harbour entrance buoy with a similar buoy light on top. Kehoe's Pub and Parlour, Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford, Ireland, p (+ 353 53) 29830; e-mail: mail@kehoes.com, Eleanor and James Kehoe, Proprietors

Back to Kehoes Home Page The Maritime Heritage Centre Admiralty Buoy Light This World War II Admiralty Buoy light is arguably one of the most interesting 'finds' in our collection. Prior to the Second World War, Trinity House (the UK equivalent of The Commissioners of Irish Lights) manufactured all buoy lights positioned around the coast of Britain. All buoy lights were stamped TH-L (for London), TH-H (for Harwich) and similarly for all locations. Thus a record was kept of the position of each light. in 1940, as a result of wartime action, Trinity House could no longer keep up with the quantity required so it was necessary to enlist the help of the Admiralty. The Admiralty assisted in the production from 1940 to 1946. At that point all Admiralty buoy lights were recalled and number 55 - the one on display in our back parlour - is one that was recalled. The Admiralty issue buoy light was made to the very highest standard. A steel and brass burner fuelled by purified acetylene and made in Sweden by Aga powered it. The extremely efficient steel valve sent flashes at two-second intervals. This created the intermittent signal necessary. The burner was designed and patented by the Swedish engineer Gustov Dahlen. for this exceptional invention, Mr Dahlen was awarded a Nobel Prize and as further recognition his country named one of their most important lighthouses after him. The picture to the left of the buoy light depicts an actually Swedish harbour entrance buoy with a similar buoy light on top. • The Idaho • The Lismore • The Shamrock II • The L.E. Muirchú • The Yacht 'Coronet' • Sir William Thompson's Dry Card Compass • The Curraghgour II • The Admiralty Buoy Light • The Isolda • The Jolie Brise • Gaff Rigged Vessels • The well dressed diver • The way we lived then... • Other items of interest | Home | Site Map | Chatroom | Maritime Heritage Centre | Seafood Kitchen | Kilmore Quay | Wexford | Review | Contact Us | Message from the owners | Site Links | Back