Description
Port An Tsalainn, Fanad Peninsula, County Donegal Ireland
If you ever visit ‘Fanad Lighthouse’ this is usually the traditional view which greets you & the scene which is expected each time I visit. This particular photo wasn’t captured during a gorgeous red sunrise/sunset nor was it captured under a stunning blue sky. It was captured on a duller overcast evening in between heavy rain showers. This is the everyday scene to expect on your visit here, anything else more colourful is a bonus ?
However, these conditions are still a good thing! As the cloudy skies dimmed the sun which allowed the colours/details of the rocks to show without washing out in the bright light. The rain seemed to momentarily change the colour of the shallow waters to a lovely turquoise & also made the rocks wet causing them to shimmer a deeper red colour. To anyone looking to visit or photograph here, I can tell you that ‘Fanad Lighthouse’ looks stunning in any weather as many will agree, so go give it a whirl ?
Fanad Head Lighthouse was conceived as essential to seafarers following a tragedy which happened over 200 years ago. In December 1811 the frigate ‘Saldanha’ sought shelter from a storm. Sailing towards ‘Fanad’ as she frantically fought the raging wind and waves. Sadly, reaching the shore safely never happened and the ship was wrecked off the northern coast with all 250+ men on board.
Believe it or not the ship’s captain ‘William Pakenham’ & his pet parrot made it safely to shore! But reportedly he passed soon afterwards by the shock of ‘Poitin’ (Alcohol) poisoning which given to him by helpful locals. The poor parrot also met a sad end a week later when a local gamekeeper seen it in his garden. Unfortunately he didn’t know what it was so he panicked & shot it ?
Soon after this tragedy the ‘Fanad Head Lighthouse’ was built to help guide ships and sailors safely on their journeys. Still in operation to this day it stands strong on a rocky outcrop on the north Donegal coast, blinking its guiding light out to sea to aid ships past its inviting yet deceiving rocky waters.
