Metal Man Shipping Beacon tower Great Newtown Head Tramore County Waterford Munster, Republic of Ireland sea side warning tower
A prominent feature of Tramore bay is the "Metal Man"[3]. It is a large cast-metal figure pointing seawards, set on top of one of three pillars. It was erected in 1823 by Lloyd's of London to warn seafarers away from dangerous shallow waters. Two more pillars sit on the headland opposite, Brownstown Head. There are many myths and legends surrounding the Metal Man. One such myth is that if a woman could hop barefoot around the base of the Metal Man three times she would be married within the year. The Irish broadcaster RTÉ recently had an item on its Seascapes radio programme on the history of the Metal Man and its current state of repairs Beacons are aids to navigation devices. Intentionally conspicuous, beacons help guide navigators to their destinations. Beacon types include radar reflectors, radio beacons, and sonic or visual signals. Visual beacons range from small, single-pile structures to large lighthouses or light stations and are located on land or in water. Lighted beacons are called lights; unlighted beacons are called daybeacons. Classically, beacons are fires lit on hills or high places, used either as lighthouses for navigation at sea, or for signalling over land that enemy troops are approaching, and alerting the defense. In the latter iteration, beacons are an ancient form of optical telegraphy, and were always parts of a relay league. Systems of this kind have existed for centuries over much of the world. Indeed, in Scandinavia many hill forts were parts of beacon networks to warn against invading pillagers. In Israel beacons were used to show the beginning of the month. In Wales, the Brecon Beacons were named for beacons used to warn of approaching English raiders. In England, the most famous examples are the beacons used in Elizabethan England to warn of the approaching Spanish Armada. Many hills in England are named Beacon Hill after these beacons. Beacons have often been abused by pirates. A fire at a wrong position was used
Size: 5025px × 3363px
Photo credit: © Ireland Alan King / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: beacon, county, great, head, ireland, man, metal, munster, newtown, republic, sea, shipping, side, tower, tramore, warning, waterford
