I was delighted to have such a good view of this famous lighthouse, which 4 miles to the south-west of Clear Island. I was only sorry I didn't get out to it. Maybe next time . . . This is the highest lighthouse in Ireland (159 feet), the present structure entered active service in 1904 and cost nearly £90,000 to build. It replaced two earlier ones built 1818 and 1854 respectively, both too weak to withstand harsh sea conditions. It produces a 0.14 second long white flash every five seconds, with a nominal range of 27 nautical miles. Its Irish name is Carraig Aonair, meaning solitary or lone rock. It is the most southerly point of Ireland. It was known as Ireland's Teardrop because it was the last place that Irish emigrants saw when sailing to the USA in the 19th century.