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Lighthouse Digest is saddened to report that John Eagle, noted Irish lighthouse photographer, author, artist, and Irish Lighthouse Tour Guide, has passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
A native of England, he settled in Ireland where he took up photography, especially lighthouses. Early on in his career he was given official authority by the Commissioner of Irish Lights to visit and photograph that nation’s lighthouses, many of which he did by official government helicopter. He was the first person in history to photograph every Irish Lighthouse. Soon he started publishing Irish lighthouse postcards and tens of thousands of them have been mailed around the world.
In 1999 John Eagle published the successful book An Eagles View of Irish Lighthouses, followed ten years later, in 2010, by the more in-depth and also highly successful book, Ireland’s Lighthouses, A Photo Essay.
Although lighthouses were his favorite topic, he photographed just about anything and everything. His photographs appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines and other types of publications. When digital photography came along he offered workshops on how to take good digital photographs.
His post cards, books, and lighthouse calendars eventually led him to providing tours to lighthouses of Ireland. This gained him many personal friendships that lasted his entire life.
At 6 feet 5 inches tall he was often embarrassed by his height, and some who personally knew him, called him the gentle giant who was always available to help anyone he knew in any way that he could. He would often be seen lugging around a number of different cameras around his neck and over his shoulders.
As well as being a respected photographer, he was also an accomplished artist, who displayed his work at a number of art fairs and shows.
The world-wide lighthouse community has lost a true friend. He was a kind and gentle man who was loved by many. There will never be another like him.
May his beam continue to shine on the Irish lights that he loved so much.
We will miss him.
This story appeared in the
Jan/Feb 2019 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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