Loop Head Lighthouse

County Clare


On a 90m-high cliff, this 23m-tall working lighthouse, complete with a Fresnel lens, rises up above Loop Head. Guided tours (included in admission) take you up the tower and onto the balcony – in fine weather you can see as far as the Blasket Islands and Connemara. There's been a lighthouse here since 1670; the present structure dates from 1854. It was converted to electricity in 1871 and automated in 1991.

It's possible to stay at the neighbouring former lighthouse keeper's cottage.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby County Clare attractions

1. Banna Strand

15.91 MILES

A favourite weekend getaway for Tralee residents, Banna is one of the biggest and best Blue Flag beaches in Ireland, a 6km stretch of fine golden sand…

2. Ardfert Cathedral

17.27 MILES

The impressive remains of 13th-century Ardfert Cathedral are notable for the beautiful and delicate stone carvings on its Romanesque door and window…

3. Scattery Island

17.98 MILES

This uninhabited, windswept and treeless island in the estuary 3km southwest of Kilrush was the site of a Christian settlement founded by St Senan in the…

4. Shannon Dolphin Centre

19.08 MILES

The 170-plus bottlenose dolphins swimming out in the Shannon are monitored by this dedicated research facility. In addition to learning about its latest…

5. St Senan's Church

19.46 MILES

St Senan’s Catholic church has a lovely rose window as well as four stained-glass windows by well-known early-20th-century artist Harry Clarke.

6. Vandeleur Walled Garden

19.82 MILES

Within a 170-hectare forest 800m south of the centre, this stunning 'lost' garden was the private domain of the wealthy Vandeleur family – merchants and…

7. Lartigue Monorailway

20.2 MILES

Designed by Frenchman Charles Lartigue, this unique survivor of Victorian railway engineering once ran between Listowel and Ballybunion along the coast…

8. Listowel Castle

20.44 MILES

Standing between the town square and the river, this 12th-century castle was once the stronghold of the Fitzmaurices, the Anglo-Norman lords of Kerry. It…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "ireland/loop-head-peninsula/attractions/loop-head-lighthouse/a/poi-sig/1410555/1322566",
      "destination": "County-Clare",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Ireland",
      "region": "County-Clare",
      "position": "superzone"
    }