Build relationships at a local level, by promoting the use of maritime heritage assets and by growing and harnessing our all-island Great Lighthouses of Ireland tourism partnership to maximise local benefits.

Irish Lights is embedded across the entire coast of Ireland. Our core safe navigation services exist to serve mariners, coastal communities, ports and harbours. Arising from the properties we hold for operational purposes we are also the custodians of a suite of iconic lighthouse heritage sites and associated heritage structures. In total we own approximately 290 heritage structures across Ireland and Northern Ireland that are of heritage significance by virtue of their inclusion on the National Inventory of Architecture Heritage or are protected structures / listed buildings.

We also hold a significant archive and rich artifacts, which are a source of maritime history and are also important for the wider social, political, military, engineering, architectural, scientific and administrative history of Ireland in the 19th & 20th centuries. In addition, there is an equally important intangible heritage including local and oral history that exists in relation to the entire operation of Irish Lights since it was established. This is a rich and significant source of heritage which lives on in the coastal communities in which Irish Lights operated and has interacted with for over 240 years.

Irish Lights has for many years recognised the importance of preserving its physical, cultural and natural heritage together with protecting and sharing Irish Lights maritime history for future generations.

A particular success story has been the Great Lighthouses of Ireland brand partnership. This is a strategic all-island tourism initiative to revitalise lighthouses and related structures through collaborative efforts with local authorities, community groups, and government agencies. In supporting Great Lighthouses of Ireland, Irish Lights is committed to the development of a sustainable economic model and the reinvention of individual lighthouses as visitor attractions and unique self-catering accommodation that contribute to local communities.

The partnership now represents 15 community, public, and private operators, who collectively manage 16 lighthouse sites around the island of Ireland. Each site offers valuable, innovative, and sustainable lighthouse and maritime visitor experiences, delivering socio-economic benefits to coastal communities around Ireland. GLI currently offers over 22 visitor experiences, including guided and self-guided tours, boat tours, and a variety of self-catering accommodation. An independent socio-economic report commissioned in April 2019 confirmed that Great Lighthouses of Ireland delivered economic benefit of €16.86 million to the economy and supported 409 jobs in coastal communities. The recently launched Great Lighthouses of Ireland Strategy 2025-2030 estimates that the value of lighthouse tourism can grow by 25% to 2030.

Collaboration facilitated by Irish Lights, with tourism agencies is a crucial element of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland brand partnership and Irish Lights has a Strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Failte Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta and is a strategic partner for Tourism Northern Ireland’s “Embrace a Giant Spirit” visitor brand. Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland have both contributed to marketing and promotion activities.

Not all lighthouses can be developed for tourism, and neither would this be desirable at all sites. For our non GLI sites, Irish Lights has committed to developing a 10-year Heritage Development and Management Plan. The plan will assess the current condition of our lighthouse estate in terms of heritage significance, identify and document the historical and cultural context of each lighthouse. It will identify the investment required to develop strategies for conservation, maintenance and restoration, and an associated land management plan to manage sites of cultural and natural heritage value for which we are responsible.

The plan will also continue the organisation’s commitment to work closely with local communities, government agencies, environmental organisations and other stakeholders to foster greater appreciation for our lighthouse’s natural beauty, biological importance and cultural significance. It will require ongoing collaboration with stakeholders including the Heritage Council, NPWS, OPW, Failte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, GLI partners, NGOs, Government and local authorities to name a few, as such partnerships are instrumental in leveraging each other’s strengths.

The plan will also include a strategy for historical properties where “responsible withdrawal” and “manage by nature” policies are being applied to ensure that there is a “Palliative Heritage Management” plan in place where photographic and digital records are recorded and intangible heritage is collected, particularly in time sensitives areas.

Focus Area 4 of this strategy encompasses our approach safeguarding the past and working with local communities to protect and manage our unique heritage and history

Strategic Objectives 2025-2030

1. Implement the Great Lighthouses of Ireland Strategic Plan 2025-2030 with a view to:

• Growing and positioning Great Lighthouses of Ireland as an exemplar in the delivery of quality maritime and tourism experiences for the benefit of all partners, stakeholders, and coastal communities.
• Protecting and sharing the rich maritime heritage and culture associated with lighthouses and coastal communities.

1. Develop a 10-year Heritage Development and Management Plan with a view to:

• Identifying what heritage means to Irish Lights including the wider impact and significance of Irish Lights Heritage in the wider context of the history of Ireland.
• Safeguarding the historical and cultural integrity of lighthouse structures and associated heritage assets and sites.
• Considering the unique and difficult environment in which some of Irish Lights heritage assets exist, exploring innovative ways to efficiently and effectively preserve the heritage at these locations.
• Identifying ways in which the Irish Lights Archive can be further developed and brought to life to promote the history and heritage of Irish Lights and its connection to local communities.
• Incorporating strategies that enhance and protect biodiversity in and around the heritage sites.
• Developing management practices that promote the sustainable use of resources associated with the heritage sites and articulate the approach to be taken in balancing technological advancement of aids to navigation whilst preserving heritage.
• Involving local communities and stakeholders in the heritage management and development process.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and best practices in heritage and biodiversity management.
• Securing funding to support Heritage Development and Management, including the Archive.