International Marine, Lighthouse Tourism & Maritime Heritage Conference
Dublin Castle 7th & 8th October 2025
12 Incredibly Instagrammable Lighthouses
Take a trip around the Great Lighthouses of Ireland via Instagram!
With windswept edge-of-the-world views, a lighthouse break or day trip is an unforgettable experience.
Here are some breathtaking images taken by Instagram users already enamoured by the Great Lighthouses of Ireland. Prepare for your heart to race and for a lighthouse break to sit atop of your to-do list!
Hook Lighthouse, Co Wexford
A hazy early morning sky and a resolute 800-year-old Hook Lighthouse - complete with four-metre thick walls! - photographer @tony__mullen’s shot is pure bliss. Find out more about Hook.
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Blackhead Lighthouse, Co Antrim
A perfect painterly sky reflected on the calm waters of Belfast Lough, user @clicketysplitz captured a dramatic Blackhead Lighthouse scene. This lighthouse guided many well-known vessels during Belfast’s golden age of shipping, including the ill-fated Titanic. Don’t pass up the opportunity to stay on-site at a lightkeeper’s cottage and soak up every inch of those views. Find out more about Blackhead.
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Ballycotton Lighthouse, Co Cork
One of Ireland’s only black lighthouses, @seanhartwellphotography nabbed a beautiful image of Ballycotton Lighthouse on its remote offshore perch. Nestled high up on Ballycotton Island, this east Cork delight was first lit in 1851 and even boasts some resident goats! The waters around the lighthouse are also home to seals, dolphins and the occasional whale. Find out more about Ballycotton.
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Fanad Head Lighthouse, Co Donegal
It might overlook a glacial fjord but the views around Fanad Head Lighthouse won’t fail to warm your heart. The beacon was lit for the first time on St Patrick’s Day 1817. Instagram user @i_roamireland’s image of the lighthouse illuminating the night sky is so evocative. One look and you’re dying to take off on a lighthouse break away! Find out more about Fanad.
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Valentia Island Lighthouse, Co Kerry
Ruggedly romantic and perched on a 17th-century fort, Instagrammer @evelyne_1968 captures Valentia Island Lighthouse’s unique vantage point over the thrashing Atlantic in this wild photo. The shoreline by the lighthouse is also the site of fascinating fossilised dinosaur footprints. Looking for even more heart-skipping views? On a clear day, both Skellig Michael and the Blasket Islands are visible from the lighthouse itself. Find out more about Valentia Island.
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St John’s Point Lighthouse, Co Down
With bumblebee-like bands of colour, St John’s Point Lighthouse is one you won’t forget and @robertderring’s photo of it brings those welcome sunshine vibes too. It’s the tallest onshore lighthouse on the Irish coast and is even mentioned in Van Morrison’s lush and nostalgic song Coney Island. Stroll along the shoreline or better yet, embrace those coastal panoramas on a stay in the lightkeepers’ cottages on-site. Find out more about St John’s Point, Down.
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St John’s Point Lighthouse, Co Donegal
Sitting at the end of one of Ireland’s longest peninsulas, the other St John’s Point Lighthouse is a Donegal gem. Instagrammer @aislingmdoonan snapped the cut-granite lighthouse in a stunning light with a dreamy sunset. Shining since 1831, this treasure comes complete with self-catering cottages making a lighthouse break here simply irresistible. Be sure to take a walk on nearby Coral Beach to admire its pink-hued sands. Find out more about St John’s Point, Donegal.
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Clare Island Lighthouse, Co Mayo
As luxurious as a lighthouse gets, a stay at Clare Island Lighthouse is a true lovers’ treat. The lighthouse’s own Instagram account showcases this to incredible effect. Starry skies? Check. Atlantic vistas? Check. Six-course dinner? Check! If history’s your thing, the island was also the home of legendary pirate queen Grace O’Malley. Find out more about Clare Island Lighthouse.
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Loop Head Lighthouse, Co Clare
Who says rain isn’t romantic? Picture yourself cosied up in one of Loop Head’s lightkeeper cottages as the elements descend outside. The @amazing.ireland account knows this all too well, their photo of Loop Head Lighthouse illuminating the darkened sky is an atmospheric beauty. Standing at the end of the Loop Head Peninsula, a lighthouse has lit the horizon here since 1670. With views that stretch up to Galway and down to Kerry, a taste of coastal life here is yours to enjoy. Find out more about Loop Head.
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Galley Head Lighthouse, Co Cork
With a scenic, winding road leading to the main event, the journey alone towards gorgeous Galley Head is a sight to behold - as @hzlsadventures’ photo effortlessly shows. Built in 1875, when first constructed the light of Galley Head was the most powerful lighthouse beam in existence. Tucked away in serene west Cork, a stay here really lets you escape life’s hustle and bustle. Salty air, seascapes for miles, Blue Flag beaches on your doorstep and a self-catering cottage to enjoy, how can you resist this lighthouse break? Find out more about Galley Head.
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Rathlin West Light, Co Antrim
Another island beauty, just look at that expanse of sea below Rathlin West Light. An unusual ‘upside down’ lighthouse, Instagrammer @katiedalysireland’s photo showcases this early 1900s engineering marvel to great effect. Built into the cliff face itself, the light first shone in 1919. Home to 250,000 seabirds as well as the captivating lighthouse; spot puffins, razorbills, guillemots and more as you wander the idyllic island. Find out more about about Rathlin West Light.
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Wicklow Head Lighthouse, Co Wicklow
Boasting views of the Irish Sea from three angles, Wicklow Head Lighthouse stands almost ghostlike in @jutrzenka_majowa’s fab photo. An ideal lighthouse escape, have the tower all to yourselves but prepare for the hefty 109 steps up to the kitchen! The nearby cliff path is also a great spot to watch seals from. Find out more about about Wicklow Head.
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Feeling inspired? Learn more about our lighthouses to plan a visit or an overnight stay.
