International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend

Lore & Background

The ILLW was the brainchild of John Forsyth and Mike Dalrymple, members of the Ayr Amateur Radio Group in Scotland, and began in 1998. It has since developed into an international gathering of amateur radio operators from an estimated 95 countries. The event is currently managed by Australian amateur radio operator Kevin Mulcahy (call VK2CE), who has been involved since 1998 and now owns the domain name and web site, assisted by a small team of volunteers.

Concurrent with the ILLW, the Association of Lighthouse Keepers conducts their Lighthouse Heritage Weekend, encouraging lighthouse managers and keepers worldwide to open their doors to the public. Major amateur radio organizations such as the Radio Society of Great Britain, the Amateur Radio Relay League of America, and the Wireless Institute of Australia support and promote the weekend, accounting for the many participating countries each year.

The event's objective is 'to promote public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and their need for preservation and restoration, to promote amateur radio and to foster International goodwill.' A classic example of what should not be allowed to happen to a lighthouse is shown on YouTube featuring the lighthouse remains on Culebrita Island in Puerto Rico, highlighting neglect and vandalism that the event seeks to address.

Reader's Guide

The International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend holds significance as a global amateur radio event that combines radio operation with heritage conservation. According to the article, its stated objective is to promote public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and their need for preservation and restoration, to promote amateur radio, and to foster international goodwill. The event's legacy is tied to its role in drawing attention to the neglect and vandalism suffered by many lighthouses, as exemplified by the lighthouse remains on Culebrita Island in Puerto Rico. The basic format involves local amateur radio clubs or licensed individuals setting up stations in or near lighthouses and operating over the weekend, with the goal of contacting other stations, especially those at other lighthouse sites. Visiting public are invited to watch operators and even use equipment under supervision. The event is supported by major amateur radio organizations including the Radio Society of Great Britain, the Amateur Radio Relay League of America, and the Wireless Institute of Australia, which accounts for its wide international participation. The event is managed by Kevin Mulcahy (call VK2CE) with a small team of volunteers, and numerous YouTube video clips have been submitted by participants.