In a land whose roots are so entrenched by mythical legends of the past, it is no surprise that Ireland's lighthouses, located in some of the most unspoiled and picturesque places, are surrounded by tales of danger, heroism, romance, and mystery: Hookhead Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in the British Isles and was formerly operated by an ancient order of monks; Lightships were manned by daring keepers who had to endure terrible living conditions and unrelenting seas; the Ballycotton lighthouse in County Cork which was a favourite among the keepers; Fastnet, in County Cork, was known as The Teardrop of Ireland because during the days of emigration, for many it would be their last sight of Ireland; the lighthouses of Bull and Calf Rock are examples of when the power of the sea proved too strong; the Skellig Islands were occupied by an order of ancient monks who built a monastery on the edge of the cliffs hundreds of feet above the treacherous sea; the mysterious Tory Island where the islanders used stones to place curses on unwelcome visitors and were used to terrible effect in 1884; The Maidens is a pair of lighthouses that is home to the romantic story of the Maiden lovers; Roches Point, beyond Cork Harbour, on the south coast of Ireland where the tranquil beauty of this lighthouse is deceiving; and finally Baily has guided ships into the port of Dublin for the past 300 years and was the last to be automated, ending the era of manned lighthouses in Ireland.