The Metal Man is a beacon off the coast of the Rosses Point Peninsula in County Sligo, Ireland.

Metal Man

Metal Man beacon
Location	County Sligo, Ireland
Coordinates	54°18′13″N 8°34′32″W
Constructed	1819 (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

History

The Metal Man is a freestanding painted cast iron statue of a Royal Navy petty officer. It is placed between Rosses Point and Oyster Island. It was cast in 1819 by Thomas Kirke in London.[1]

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 It was originally made for the Blackrock Beacon, but Sligo merchants suggested it be placed on Perch Rock. It has an identical twin beacon the Metal Man, Tramore, County Waterford. From 16 October 1908, an acetylene light was placed beside him. In 1934, it 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 only illuminates at night.[2][3]

The Metal Man was painted by Jack Butler Yeats a number of times including Memory Harbour.[4][5]

Current status

There is a campaign undertaken by a local group which has been highlighting the deteriorating condition of the beacon called Save the Metal Man.[4][3]

See also

• List of lighthouses in Ireland

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Metal Man Beacon.