The Lightkeeper

The author was one of Ireland's last lightkeepers. In this book, he recalls the thrills, trials, tragedies, triumphs and dangers of serving on lighthouses such as Bull Rock, Mizen Head, and the infamous Fastnet Rock.

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Gerald Butler was one of Ireland's last lightkeepers. Until they were fully automated in the 1990s, Gerald spent over 21 years tending to many lighthouses around the coast of Ireland. In "The Lightkeeper" he recalls with passion the thrills, trials, tragedies, triumphs and dangers of serving on lighthouses such as Bull Rock, Mizen Head, the Old Head of Kinsale and the infamous Fastnet Rock. Throughout his captivating story, he recollects the terrible traumas of crews battling for their lives on mountainous seas, in horrendous, stormy conditions. He describes in detail the tragic 1979 Fastnet yacht race, which involved 3,000 competitors and more than 4,000 rescuers, and in which he played a vital role as a lighthouse keeper on the forbidding Fastnet Rock, towering over the storm-struck vessels as they struggled for survival. An affectionate portrayal of a different era, The Lightkeeper gives a unique insight into the lives and characters of lighthouse keepers, their families and the wider seafaring community