The Napoleonic Signal Tower
The Napoleonic-era signal tower on Dursey was built between 1804 and 1806 in response to the threat of a French invasion and formed part of a large-scale observation and communication system, an optical telegraph, of 81 towers, spanning 1076km around the Irish coast. The next tower can be seen on Black Ball Head, due east of the Dursey tower.
The towers were of broadly similar construction: square, two (or three) storeys, flat roof with parapet, main door at first-floor level (accessed by a ladder) and fireplaces. Unlike their burly bigger brothers the Martellos, the signal towers were not designed to hold heavy artillery. They had some defensive features like machicolation (projections from the walls to allow objects to be thrown directly down on attackers) and surrounded by a wall. Their main role was to house their crew and help protect them from attack by a small force.
Crewed by a naval lieutenant, a midshipman, two signalmen and a military guard (usually between eight and twelve men in total), they could signal to the next tower using flags and other visual cues (they were all in line of sight) if any invading ships were spotted.
The towers were abandoned after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo in 1815, although some have been restored in recent times and some form part of modern residences.
The process of sending a message involved the raising and lowering of a large rectangular flag, a smaller blue pendant and four black balls or hoops in various combinations along a system centred on a tall wooden mast.
On the 20th of August 2006, an event organised by the Beara Archaeological and Historical Society took place to mark the two-hundred year anniversary of the building of the towers. Local communities all along the Irish coast came together and a new lease of life surged through these remote outposts – a fire lit at the Black Ball Head tower began a signal that spread westward and eastward, bound for Malin Head and Dublin.
The towers were of broadly similar construction: square, two (or three) storeys, flat roof with parapet, main door at first-floor level (accessed by a ladder) and fireplaces. Unlike their burly bigger brothers the Martellos, the signal towers were not designed to hold heavy artillery. They had some defensive features like machicolation (projections from the walls to allow objects to be thrown directly down on attackers) and surrounded by a wall. Their main role was to house their crew and help protect them from attack by a small force.
Crewed by a naval lieutenant, a midshipman, two signalmen and a military guard (usually between eight and twelve men in total), they could signal to the next tower using flags and other visual cues (they were all in line of sight) if any invading ships were spotted.
The towers were abandoned after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo in 1815, although some have been restored in recent times and some form part of modern residences.
The process of sending a message involved the raising and lowering of a large rectangular flag, a smaller blue pendant and four black balls or hoops in various combinations along a system centred on a tall wooden mast.
On the 20th of August 2006, an event organised by the Beara Archaeological and Historical Society took place to mark the two-hundred year anniversary of the building of the towers. Local communities all along the Irish coast came together and a new lease of life surged through these remote outposts – a fire lit at the Black Ball Head tower began a signal that spread westward and eastward, bound for Malin Head and Dublin.
