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Lighthouses all over the world are going to be talking to each other this weekend

Or, at least, the ham radio enthusiasts inside.

loop head lighthhouse (2)

YOU MIGHT NOT expect amatuer radio and lighthouses to be working hand-in-hand with each other for their own preservation.

An event taking place this weekend aims to do just that, as ham radio operators in countries across the world take up residence in their local lighthouses or lightships and begin broadcasting.

The International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend (ILLW) was launched in 1988, growing from a small event in Scotland to one involving 450 lighthouse and lightships in 50 countries across the world.

“The basic objective of the event is to promote public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and their need for preservation and restoration, and at the same time to promote amateur radio and to foster International goodwill,” ILLW say.

Limerick Radio Club members Alan EI8EM - Mike EI2IX - Brendan EI0CZ - Liam EI7DSB - Ger EI4GXB - erecting high frequency antenna Limerick Radio Club members erecting high frequency antenna.

The west coast will play its own role in this at the weekend. Limerick Radio Club are heading to Loop Head Lighthouse, broadcasting from midnight on Friday to Sunday.

Last year they made contact with lighthouses as far away as Australia and Brazil through a combination of traditional radio broadcasts and Morse code.

Visitors to Loop Head will able to pop in and listen to the broadcasts being received, organisers say.

The callsign used for the broadcast will be E I 0 L H L.

Read: Here’s how to move a lighthouse >

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    Mute Patrick J. Keating
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    Aug 9th 2022, 7:15 AM

    Poke a tiger. What happens next?

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    Mute Aidy McBride
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    Aug 9th 2022, 7:46 AM

    @Patrick J. Keating: he gets an Eagle on a par 4

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    Mute Michael Geraghty
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    Aug 9th 2022, 7:47 AM

    @Patrick J. Keating: tiger sex?

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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Aug 9th 2022, 9:05 AM

    @Patrick J. Keating: So you would always give in to a bully? The CCP is having a hissy fit and they need to get over themselves.

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    Mute Declan Doherty
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    Aug 9th 2022, 3:41 PM

    @Earth Traveller: No-one said anything about giving in. It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing position. Pelosi went on a solo run to needlessly stoke up tensions and the only people who will ultimately suffer are the Taiwanese.

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    Mute Patrick J. Keating
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    Aug 9th 2022, 4:09 PM

    @Michael Geraghty: Don’t forget to let me know how you get on with that.

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    Mute Ciaran
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    Aug 9th 2022, 9:09 AM

    Of course they are preparing to invade. Didn’t Russia do / say they were doing the same type of drills before invading Ukraine ?

    Just wondering how many people
    will be putting Taiwan flags up when China does invade …

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    Mute Paul Cunningham
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    Aug 9th 2022, 10:12 AM
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    Mute Keth Warsaw
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    Aug 9th 2022, 11:05 AM

    I always appreciated the quality difference of the Taiwan rubber King Kong as compared to the ‘made in china’ version. The Taiwan version always had a bit more character and detail, and more durability…..less ‘perishing’.

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    Mute John Kavanagh
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    Aug 9th 2022, 11:58 AM

    @Keth Warsaw: there also brilliant for shoe for the 1 legged people ….

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    Mute Eddie O'Neill
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    Aug 9th 2022, 12:06 PM

    @Keth Warsaw: LOL

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    Mute François Pignon
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    Aug 9th 2022, 10:27 AM

    First hong kong, second ukraine, third taiwan? The russians need china to take taiwan for semiconductors for weapons as they are running out.

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    Mute Lee King Buckett
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    Aug 9th 2022, 7:55 PM

    @François Pignon: That’s not going to happen at all. Taiwan can’t produce semiconductors without the machinery and raw materials it gets from Europe. Any invasion would see those supplies stop immediately.

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    Mute trebloc01
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    Aug 9th 2022, 1:33 PM

    Thanks Ms Pelosi

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