Hook Lighthouse archery tradition

Date: 01-01-2025 time 13:00 Place: Hook Lighthouse Co. Wexford The annual arrow ceremony took place on January 1st at Europe’s oldest lighthouse. For umpteen years now, archers from the local Dunbrody club have participated in this age old tradition. This tradition came about as the New Ross council would shoot an arrow into the sea at the Hook every new years day, to claim rights to the Waterford estuary and this ceremony has continued since the 1600’s. In recent years more and more Dunbrody archers have become involved. It is now one of if not the highlight of the clubs year. At the same time numbers of spectators have increased substantially too and it is not uncommon for hundreds to be present to watch the spectacle. Over the years a lone piper did accompany the archers to the shooting point but now a contingent of the New Ross pipe band lead the archer parade from…