Benefactor could rescue lighthouse
Hopes dome will be restored with private donation
The Balbriggan lighthouse dome as it previously stood. Efforts are underway to find a mystery private benefactor who came forward before Christmas to say he would fund the restoration of the dome on Balbriggan Lighthouse to its former glory.
Wednesday January 21 2009
The lighthouse has been without a dome since the early 1960s and the town has been looking for it to be restored for nearly 50 years. But there was some hope that the lighthouse would be restored to its former glory within the harbour just before Christmas.
In a statement on the ongoing developments of the harbour's restoration by local TD Trevor Sargent, it was revealed that a private benefactor had come forward to the council.
Before Christmas, Fingal County Council was examining its options to replace the dome that was previously removed due to excessive iron corrosion, when a private benefactor came forward with the much needed funds.
So it was anticipated that the dome would be replaced sooner than expected, independently of the council's rehabilitation project.
But this week, Fingal County Council said that they have been unable to make contact with the private benefactor for quite some time and the future of the lighthouse is still in darkness. A spokesperson for the council told the Fingal Independent: 'Fingal County Council has tried unsuccessfully to make contact with the private benefactor over the past number of months.'
'The relevant staff in the parks and environment departments would be delighted to meet with him to discuss the matter at any time convenient to him.'
The council expect to repaint the lighthouse later in the year and are making plans to have the discarded shopping trolleys removed as soon as possible with regard to the health and safety of personnel involved. It is hoped that the controversial old boat wrecks will be removed in the first quarter of 2009 following advertising on the Etenders website.
- JULEY-ANN COLLINS
