The Metal Man (Irish: An Fear Miotail)[1] is a beacon off the coast of the Rosses Point Peninsula in County Sligo, Ireland.
![]() Metal Man beacon | |
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Location | County Sligo, Ireland |
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Coordinates | 54°18′13″N 8°34′32″W / 54.30361°N 8.57556°W |
Constructed | 1819 |
Construction | Cast-iron, metal-plate |
Light | |
First lit | 1821 |
Focal height | 3 m (9.8 ft) ![]() |
Range | 7 nmi (13 km; 8.1 mi) ![]() |
Characteristic | Fl(3) W 6.1s ![]() |
There are other similar Metal Men beacons in Tramore, County Waterford and Dalky (Nerrano Man ), County Dublin.
History
editThe Metal Man is a freestanding painted cast iron statue of a Royal Navy petty officer of the Age of Sail. It is placed between Rosses Point and Oyster Island. It was cast in 1819 by Thomas Kirke in London.[2]
It was placed on Perch Rock in 1821. It was originally made for the Blackrock Beacon, but Sligo merchants suggested it be placed on Perch Rock.[citation needed] It has an identical twin beacon in Tramore, County Waterford. From 16 October 1908, an acetylene light was placed beside the beacon. In 1934, it was changed from a single red flash every 3 seconds to a double red flash every 5 seconds. From 2003, it was converted from gas to solar power, and is only illuminated at night.[3][4]
The Metal Man was depicted in paintings several times by Jack Butler Yeats, including in Memory Harbour.[5][6]
There is a campaign undertaken[when?] by a local group which has been highlighting the deteriorating condition of the beacon called Save the Metal Man.[5][4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Tuarascáil Bhliantúil 2020 by Sligo County Council - Issuu". issuu.com. 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Metal Man Beacon, SLIGO BAY, Rosses Point, County Sligo". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ "Metal Man (Co Sligo)". Commissioners of Irish Lights. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ a b Galvin, Ciara (25 May 2019). "We will paint Metal Man ourselves". Sligo Champion. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ a b McDonagh, Marese (5 August 2019). "Metal Man in danger of toppling into sea, say campaigners". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ Kennedy, Roisin. "The Metal Man". The Model, Sligo. Retrieved 10 July 2020.