Mizen Head Visitor Centre

• By: Editor
• On: 31/Jul/08
• In: Cork Travel Tips

A little bit of history…

In 1906 the Board of Trade in collaboration with the Irish Lights Board made a decision to build a fog signal station on Cloghane Island. Between 1908 to 1910 the white arched suspension bridge was built, connecting Cloghane Island to the mainland. A competition was actually held for the design of the bridge. The next significant date was 1931 when a wireless beacon was erected at Mizen. Then in 1959 a light rising to a height of 180 feet was put up at the end Mizen Head.

1993 was the breakthrough year for the attraction, when Mizen Head Fog Signal Station went from being manually operated to automatic. In the same year some of the inhabitants of the nearby village of Goleen got together and formed the Mizen Tourism Co-operative Society Ltd. The Co-Op came up with a great business initiative to convert Mizen Head Fog Signal Station and the surrounding areas into a tourist attraction. Funding for the project came from local businesses, the county council, the Co-Op shareholders and the EU (under the Leader Programme).  The Visitor Centre opened. Here you'll find various exhibits, a shop and a café.

What can you see here…

The fantastic engineering, the bridge, the 99 steps (across the bridge) and of course the breathtaking ocean views and soaring cliffs are not to be missed at Mizen Vision.  

The light keepers cottage has been renovated to house an audio visual room, map and archive room, a room dedicated totally dedicated to the building of Fastnet Rock Lighthouse.  Also on view is the Engine Room. The Keepers Kitchen and Bedroom have been left as they were in order to portray what living conditions were like for the "men of the lights".

Add to this breathtaking views along the south west coast and you can understand why it's such a popular attraction.

How to get here...

Coming from Cork:  Turn off the N71 at Ballydehob. Go through Schull and Goleen out to Mizen Head.

Coming from Killarney:  Turn off the N71 just after Bantry. Go through Durrus and Goleen to Mizen Head.

Bus Eireann stops at Goleen, which is approximately 5 miles from Mizen Head. Some tour operators do a tour to Mizen Head.

Opening times…

Mid-March, April, May and October: Daily 10.30am to 5pm.
June to September: Daily 10am to 6pm.
November to Mid-March: Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm

If you're touring Cork and need somewhere to stay, have a look at our Cork hotels page.