Hook Lighthouse
One of the oldest operating lighthouses in the world, with a guided tour up the 13th-century tower and a visitor centre in the former keepers’ houses.
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Over het museum
Hook Lighthouse stands at the tip of the Hook Peninsula, where ships entering Waterford Harbour and the port of New Ross pass a dangerous coast. Its story begins with a beacon kept alight by monks on the headland, and the tour introduces St Dubhan, the monk linked with this early light.
The present stone tower was built in the 13th century by William Marshal, Strongbow’s son-in-law and lord of much of south-east Ireland, to guide ships to his port at New Ross. It is described as the oldest intact operational lighthouse in the world. Generations of light keepers and their families lived and worked here, and their daily routine and personal stories are part of the tour.
Today the tower can be visited only on a guided tour. Guides take small groups up the 115 spiral steps through the thick-walled medieval chambers, where life-size hologram figures of St Dubhan and William Marshal tell the story. The tour ends on the balcony, four storeys up, with views over the sea and the coast known as the graveyard of a thousand ships.
The visitor centre occupies the former light keepers’ houses and has a café, a gift shop, exhibits and art workshops.
Hoogtepunten
- Guided climb of the 13th-century tower, 115 steps
- Life-size hologram figures of St Dubhan and William Marshal
- Balcony views over the Hook coast and Waterford Harbour
- Visitor centre in the former light keepers’ houses
- Café and art workshops for children
Vaste collectie
- Guided lighthouse tour – The tour climbs the medieval tower, with hologram figures of St Dubhan and William Marshal and stories of the light keepers and their families.
Toegangsprijzen & kortingen
| Volwassenen | € 15 |
|---|---|
| Met korting | € 13,50Concessions |
| Kinderen & jongeren | € 10gratis t/m 4 jaar · Children aged 5 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 5 are free but still need a booking. |
| Mensen met een beperking | € 15begeleider gratis · The assisted visitor ticket covers two people, the visitor and a carer with a carer’s card. |
| Gezinnen | € 301 adult and 2 children. |
| Family ticket, 2 adults and 1 child | € 35 |
| Family ticket, 2 adults and 2 children | € 43 |
| Family ticket, 2 adults and 3 children | € 50 |
Prices include the guided tour. Tickets can be bought online in advance.
Toegankelijkheid
- Rolstoeltoegankelijk: geen informatie
- Lift: geen informatie
- Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
- Hulphonden welkom
- Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
- Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
- Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
- Audiodescriptie: geen informatie
The tour climbs 115 spiral steps up the tower and a reasonable level of fitness is needed. Carers can attend with an assisted visitor ticket. Service animals are allowed in the café and the lighthouse; other dogs may be on the grounds on a lead.
Kinderen & gezin
Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen
| Bezoekduur | ca. 2 uur |
|---|---|
| Toegang kinderen | gratis t/m 4 jaar |
| Gezinsticket | € 30 · 1 adult and 2 children. |
- Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
Art workshops for children are available. Nearby Dollar Bay has a sandy beach where children can search for treasure. The 115 steps of the tower tour are a consideration for young children and pushchairs.
Bereikbaarheid & parkeren
The lighthouse is at the end of the R734 on the Hook Peninsula, about 40 minutes by car from New Ross, 50 minutes from Wexford, one hour from Waterford and from Rosslare Port. The Passage East car ferry links the peninsula with County Waterford.
Route plannenService & horeca
- Café
- Restaurant: niet aanwezig
- Museumwinkel
- Wifi
The café and bakery in the visitor centre serve homemade produce from local suppliers all year. There is a gift shop, and free Wi-Fi is available.
Evenementen & zaalverhuur
Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.
Je bezoek plannen
| Rondleidingen | ja · duur ca. 45 min. |
|---|---|
| Aanbod voor scholen | ja |
| Goed om te weten | Allow about 45 minutes for the tour and up to two hours for the whole site. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the tour so that the booking can be confirmed. Each tour takes up to 30 visitors. The site also offers guided group tours and school tours. |


