Lusitania Museum & Old Head Signal Tower
Restored Napoleonic signal tower on the Old Head of Kinsale with Lusitania displays, a memorial garden and coastal views.
Få kun enkelte afsnit læst op
Om museet
The Old Head Signal Tower was built in 1804 as Station 25 in a chain of 81 coastal signal stations that the British authorities set up around Ireland after the failed French landing at Bantry Bay in 1796. The stations passed messages along the coast with flags and balls hoisted on masts. After Napoleon's defeat the network was disbanded in 1815 and the tower was abandoned.
On 7 May 1915 the liner RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by a German submarine less than twelve miles south of the headland, which makes the Old Head the closest point of land to the disaster. Local people watched the tragedy from here. A volunteer community group began restoring the ruined tower in 2010, and it opened to visitors in 2015, the centenary of the sinking. It is the only one of Ireland's 81 signal towers to be restored and opened to the public.
Inside, interpretive displays tell the story of the tower and the sinking, with a small collection of items connected to the Lusitania. A memorial garden outside lists the 1,962 passengers and crew who were aboard the ship. The community project is now working towards a third phase: a separate, purpose-built Lusitania museum building on the site. The visit also includes a roof viewpoint, a small gift shop and a seasonal café.
Højdepunkter
- Only restored and publicly accessible signal tower of Ireland's 81 Napoleonic-era stations
- Lusitania items on display, including a deckchair, plates and cutlery
- Memorial garden naming all 1,962 people aboard the ship in 1915
- Panoramic roof view over the south coast
- Located at the first or last Signature Discovery Point of the Wild Atlantic Way
Permanent udstilling
- Old Head Signal Tower and Lusitania displays – Interpretive displays on the Napoleonic signal station network and the sinking of the Lusitania, with items linked to the ship and the Lusitania Memorial Garden outside.
- Grundlagt
- 2015
- Ejer
- Lusitania Museum / Old Head Signal Tower Heritage CLG
Entrépriser & rabatter
| Voksne | 6 € |
|---|---|
| Børn og unge | gratisgratis til og med 11 år · Children under 12 enter free but must be accompanied by an adult. |
| Grupper | –Groups can ask for a guide; advance booking is advised. |
| Familier | 16 €Family of four: two adults and two students or seniors. |
Tickets can be bought online in advance or at reception on arrival. Free visits are offered to Irish primary and secondary schools.
Tilgængelighed
- Delvis kørestolsvenlig
- Elevator: ingen oplysninger
- Handicaptoilet: ingen oplysninger
- Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
- Servicehunde tilladt: ingen oplysninger
- Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
- Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
- Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
- Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger
The ground floor of the tower and the memorial garden are accessible. The first floor (25 steps) and the roof (a further 20 steps) can only be reached by stairs.
Børn og familie
| Entré for børn | gratis til og med 11 år |
|---|---|
| Familiebillet | 16 € · Family of four: two adults and two students or seniors. |
Children under 12 enter for free when accompanied by an adult.
Transport & parkering
Med offentlig transport
Lusitania Museum gate
Local Link bus 253 Kinsale to Clonakilty stops at the gate of the museum.
By car the Old Head is about 15 to 20 minutes from Kinsale town. The site is signposted as the first (or last) Signature Discovery Point of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Planlæg ruteService & spisesteder
- Café
- Museumsbutik
The small Old Head Café runs on seasonal opening hours. The gift shop sells books, prints and souvenirs.
Arrangementer & udlejning
Museet har ikke offentliggjort oplysninger om dette.
Planlæg dit besøg
| Rundvisninger | ja |
|---|---|
| Tilbud til skoler | ja |
| Godt at vide | Groups should book in advance so that a guide is available. The Local Link bus stops at the gate of the museum. |