Message in a bottle: Fanad Lighthouse launches unique competition
Staff released 10 bottles - one for each year since the public opening - into the Atlantic and inside of each is a letter offering whoever finds it the opportunity to come and stay
This year marks 10 years since Fanad Lighthouse opened to the public, and to mark the occasion, they decided to do something a little different.
Staff members sailed out into the Atlantic and released just 10 bottles, one for each year. Inside each is a letter offering whoever finds it the opportunity to come and stay at Fanad Lighthouse.
“With the currents and a little help from our team, we gave the bottles their best chance of travelling north, perhaps towards the Outer Hebrides, the Shetlands or even Iceland, although, of course, we have absolutely no idea where they will eventually end up,” Eimear Ní Mhathúna, General Manager of Fanad Lighthouse, says.
“That’s what makes today particularly exciting. We’ve heard through the grapevine that one of the bottles may already have been spotted by a fishing vessel. We’re eagerly awaiting confirmation and, hopefully, a location, which may give us the first indication of the journey the bottles are taking.
“The idea came as part of our 10-year milestone, celebrating not only the lighthouse but the journey it has taken over the past decade and its connection with the local community here in Fanad. We now employ 36 local people and continue to place local community, heritage, the Irish language and sustainability at the heart of what we do.”
There is also a competition running for anyone who captured a special moment at Fanad Lighthouse. The winner will receive a two-night stay at Fanad Lighthouse with a welcome bottle of bubbly and a complimentary Lighthouse Tour.
“A breath-taking sunset, a wild Atlantic storm, a family adventure, a lighthouse tour, an overnight stay, a hidden viewpoint, a coastal walk, or simply the beauty of Fanad through your eyes …,” they say.
“We'd love to see it. This season, we're inviting visitors, locals, photographers, and storytellers to share their favourite video moments from Fanad Lighthouse and the surrounding area.”
Videos must be submitted directly to https://fanadlighthouse.com/competition/
“Videos posted on personal social media accounts, tagged posts, comments, direct messages, or shared through any other channel will not be entered into the campaign.
“We are looking for creative, engaging and authentic content that showcases Fanad Lighthouse and the surrounding area. Some ideas include the journey to Fanad Lighthouse; a day trip to Fanad; staying overnight at the lighthouse cottages; the lighthouse tour experience; views from the tower; the café and visitor experience; sunrises and sunsets; night skies and stargazing; coastal walks and hidden viewpoints; wildlife encounters; stormy Atlantic weather; family visits; local history and heritage, a keeper’s story, stories connected to the lighthouse and the local area; encounters with local characters and community stories; the changing seasons at Fanad Lighthouse; the wider Fanad Peninsula and nearby attractions
“We encourage creators to tell a story rather than simply film a location. Show us what makes your experience memorable.”