Lusitania Museum & Old Head Signal Tower

Over het museum

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.

Hoogtepunten

• 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

Vaste collectie

• 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.

Opgericht

2015

Beheerder

Lusitania Museum / Old Head Signal Tower Heritage CLG

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Tickets can be bought online in advance or at reception on arrival. Free visits are offered to Irish primary and secondary schools.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

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.

Kinderen & gezin

Children under 12 enter for free when accompanied by an adult.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

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.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

The small Old Head Café runs on seasonal opening hours. The gift shop sells books, prints and souvenirs.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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