one of many sea caves. In 1306 Robert the Bruce hid here after being defeated by
the English at Perth. It is said that while in the cave he watched a spider
repeatedly trying to reach the roof of the cave by its thread. After a long
struggle it suceeded and inspired him to "try and try again". He returned to Scotland
and defeated his opponents to regain the Scottish throne.
Bracken Cave - Accessible on foot
Rathlin has three lighthouses.
The East Light
, built in 1856, is the oldest. It
became automated in 1995.
The Rue Light, at the southern tip opposite fair head, is only 35 feet
above sea level.
At the western tip of the island is the West Light
, built between 1912 and
1916 at the enormous cost in those days of £400,000.
East Light
Rue Light
Location of West Light
Rathlin has many wrecks which are frequented by divers. In the graveyard of
St. Thomas's Church, beside the sea, are the graves of 4 First World War
British sailors.
A billion tonnes of the Irish Sea is forced by tidal pressure into the 11 mile
gap between Ireland and Scotland four times each day. This North-South current
meets with the East-West current passing through Rathlin Sound. Where the two currents
collide off Rue Point the waves are often extremely
violent and the roar of"Slough na Morra"
(Swallow of the Sea) can be heard
for some considerable distance at times.
Rathlin's winds are used to drive 3 turbines, Conn, Aedh and Fiachra to
generate two-thirds of the Island's electricity. Prior to their construction
in October 1992 there was no mains electricity on the island. (The turbines
are named after the three sons of the mythical chieftan Lir. According to legend
his 4 children were turned into swans for 300 years by their stepmother and
roamed the seas around Rathlin.
At one time Rathlin supported a population of 1000. However within 20 years of
the 1846 potato famine this was reduced to 500. Evidence of the little homesteads
and tilled fields can still be seen today.
The Shop, Church Bay
Until the 1940's Rathlin used to export kelp
. Seaweed was collected and put into stone
kilns and burned until it turned into a "boiling mess". There were up to 150
kelp kilns at one time and the kelp was used to produce soda and iodine.
Rathlin was also famous for smuggling
- poteen, rum, brandy, tobacco, lace, etc.
Near Ushet Port on the south-east tip of the island is a buildind with recesses
in the walls, said to be used for contraband. The Coastguard filed in Ushet Port
with stones to make it unusable.
St. Thomas' Church
Rathlin's cliffs are home to tens of thousands of seabirds. A favourite viewing
place is the Kebble Nature Reserve
at the west end of the island.
There the volcanic rock stacks are crowded with fulmars, guillemots, kittiwakes,
manx shearwaters, puffins and razorbills. When they come ashore in the summer
to breed the din had to be heard to be believed. Buzzards, waders, falcons,
kestrels, curlews and snipe are also found on Rathlin.
Kebble Nature Reserve
Rathlin is an excellent spot to observe shipping and this led to
Lloyds of London commissioning Marconi
to establish the historic first
radio link between the East Light and Ballycastle in 1898.
Rathlin Primary School
