placenamesEagle Island
Oileán sa Tuaidh
Irish Lights’ history traces changes to the island’s navigation lights and the keepers’ homes.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- Oileán sa Tuaidh · Irish · main form · validated name
- Eagle Island · English · main form
Place & story
Lights aligned for navigation
Two lights were first exhibited on Eagle Island on 29 September 1835. Irish Lights explains that their alignment helped vessels pass dangers between Blacksod Bay and Broadhaven. The eastern and western towers stood apart but carried their lanterns at the same elevation. [2]
From the eastern station to shore homes
The storm of 29 December 1894 badly damaged the eastern station’s dwellings and extinguished its light. Families sheltered in the tower before women and children were taken to Belmullet. The eastern light was discontinued on 1 November 1895 when an improved western light entered service. Keepers’ families moved into new shore dwellings at Corclough at the end of 1900. Automatic operation followed on 31 March 1988, when the keepers left the island station. [2]
Geographic information
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Eagle Island. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Eagle Island Lighthouse: institutional history · Commissioners of Irish Lights
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2025-01-10. How this page was prepared.