Tearaght Island
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Tearaght Island (An Tiaracht in Irish, and sometimes called "the Tearaght" or "Inishtearaght" in English) is an uninhabited steep rocky island situated to the west of the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry. It is the westernmost of the Blasket Islands, the westernmost point of Ireland, the westernmost point of the British Isles if Rockall is not included. It lies at longitude 10°40' west.
Tearaght Island is about 1 km from east to west, and 500 m from north to south. The island is divided into two sections, a larger eastern part (200 m high) and a western part that rises to 116 m. A narrow neck of rock, with a natural tunnel through it, joins the two parts.
Tearaght Island, like the other Blasket Islands, holds large numbers of seabirds, with internationally important populations of Manx shearwater and European storm-petrel. Leach's storm-petrels have also been found there (but not proved to be breeding) in recent years. The number of auks, especially puffins, has apparently fluctuated greatly, though early records are not always reliable.
A lighthouse was established on the island in 1870, and automated in 1988. The lighthouse, maintained by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, is 84 m above high water.
See also
Lighthouses in Ireland
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