Overview
Of the 82 signal towers Britain threw up around the Irish coast during the Napoleonic Wars, Glosh Tower is the only one in Mayo still standing largely intact; most of the others have collapsed. It sits on the summit of Termon Hill, 53 metres above the sea, near the Gaeltacht village of Eachléim (Aughleam) on the Mullet Peninsula in north-west County Mayo. It’s a tall square block of stone, braced with buttresses and clad in quarry slates against the Atlantic weather.
The tower is really the marker; the view is the reason to climb the hill. It’s a short walk up across grassland, and from the top the eye runs out over Blacksod Bay to Blackrock Island and its lighthouse, with Achill on the skyline on a clear day.
The signal tower network
The towers went up after the shock of 1798, when the French landed at Bantry Bay and again at Kilcummin near Killala. Between 1801 and 1806, Britain built a chain of 82 stations along the coast, each within sight of the next, so a warning could be relayed the length of the seaboard. Glosh Tower was built around 1806 as one link on the Mullet.
The method was simple: when a lookout spotted a ship, flags or balls were hoisted on the tower, and the next station passed the signal on down the line. The men who kept these watches were poorly paid militia posted to some of the most exposed ground in the country. Once the French threat faded the towers lost their purpose, and most were left to fall in; Glosh survived on the strength of its build.
What to see and do
- The view from the hill – Termon Hill gives an open sweep over Blacksod Bay and out to Blackrock Island. The stark shape of the tower against the sky makes it a strong subject for a photograph.
- Ionad Deirbhle heritage centre – the Eachléim heritage centre, in a former schoolhouse, covers the signal towers, the 1798 rebellion and the maritime history of the Erris coast. Hours vary, so ring ahead on +353 (0) 97 85727.
- Walking and birds – Termon Hill folds easily into longer coastal routes such as the Erris Head Loop. The machair grassland and dunes around it are good ground for nesting birds, so keep dogs on a lead near the tower.
Practical information
Glosh Tower is an open hilltop ruin, so there’s nothing to pay and no set opening hours, but there’s also no shelter, and the wind on Termon Hill can be serious.
Getting there
- By car – from Belmullet, head west toward Eachléim and follow the local signs for the tower. The last stretch is a short walk up over grass.
- By public transport – bus services connect Ballina and Belmullet; from Belmullet you’d need a local taxi or a place on an organised heritage walk.
Visitor tips
- The ground is uneven and slippery when wet; wear proper footwear. It’s not a site for pushchairs or anyone with limited mobility, and it’s a roofless ruin, so don’t try to climb the walls.
- There are no facilities on the hill, so bring water and layers.
- Late afternoon gives the best light, when the low sun catches the slate and throws long shadows over the bay.