A traditional arrow ceremony is to take place at Hook Lighthouse in Co Wexford on New Year's Day, reviving a custom that dates back more than three centuries.
The event will be held at the 800-year-old lighthouse, which will host members of the Dunbrody Archers for the ceremony. During the ritual, biodegradable arrows will be cast into the sea, symbolising the historic authority of the port over the surrounding waters.
Organisers say the tradition dates back to 1687, when the mayor and corporation of New Ross Town Council would travel to Hook Head to assert their jurisdiction over the lighthouse and estuary by shooting an arrow into the sea.
On this occasion, Councillor John Dwyer, Cathaoirleach of the New Ross Municipal District, will recreate the ceremony by following in the footsteps of his predecessors and casting an arrow from the lighthouse on 1 January.
Speaking ahead of the event, Larry Colgan, General Manager at Hook Lighthouse, said the site represents a living connection to Ireland’s maritime past. He described Hook Lighthouse as the oldest intact operating lighthouse in the world and said the arrow ceremony highlights its importance to local heritage and community history.
He added that the event offers visitors an opportunity to engage with centuries-old traditions and better understand the lighthouse’s enduring role along Ireland’s southern coast.
Members of the public have been invited to attend what organisers have described as a unique and historic event, which will take place at 1pm on New Year’s Day.
While the visitor centre at Hook Lighthouse is currently closed, it is due to reopen on St Stephen’s Day and will remain open for the duration of the holiday period.
