Kevin M McCarthy

Since the time when Greek sentinels lit fires on mountaintops for the use of mariners at sea, lighthouses have aided the navigation of sailors on European waters. Those crude fires have been replaced by state-of-the-art towers equipped with satellite technology, and lighthouses remain indispensable navigational aids. For Ireland, the lights are important not only to mariners, but to the livelihood of the entire island. Eighty lighthouses under the authority of the Commissioners of Irish Lights dot the 2000 miles of Irish coastline. Each is addressed here, and thirty of the most interesting lights are featured with detailed histories and full-color paintings by noted maritime artist William Trotter. From the sinking of the Lusitania to the burial of a shipwrecked elephant, Kevin McCarthy outlines the significance of Irish lights to the maritime history of Ireland and the world while painting a vivid picture of the life led by the keepers and inhabitants of the rocks, islands, and shores of the Emerald Isle.

Blackbeard, Jose Gaspar, Jean Lafitte--the names conjure up a romantic, swashbuckling figure with a black patch over one eye, a cutlass in his teeth, and a brace of pistols tucked into his waistband. Actors such as Errol Flynn did much to create that devil-may-care attitude glamorized on the silver screen, but in fact, real pirates were not so admirable; for the most part they were cruel, greedy, dastardly brigands, many of whom were slave traders or smugglers in addition to being pirates. Still, we continue to be fascinated by their lives and exploits, perhaps because they led such adventurous lives full of bravery, recklessness and daring. It is certainly more enjoyable-- and safer--to read about pirates than to encounter one. This book chronicles the lives and times of 20 notable Florida pirates, from the English privateers of the 1500s to present-day drug smugglers and "yachtjackers." Pirates have always found easy prey in the seas around Florida; not only did the treasure-laden ships on their way back to Europe have to sail close to Florida's shores to catch the currents east, but the treacherous Florida Reef foundered many a ship, making easy pickings. Most of what we know about pirates comes from Navy records, newspaper accounts, or eyewitness statements from those whom the pirates spared. This book distills the most interesting facts from many sources into a book that will be enjoyed by anyone interested in a different perspective on Florida's history.

Sunken treasure, cannibalism, prison ships, Nazi submarines, the Bermuda triangle--all are tied into the lore of shipwrecks along Florida's coasts. There are as many shipwreck stories as there are thousands of Florida shipwrecks. This book offers thirty of the most interesting of them--from the tale of young Fontaneda, who wrecked in 1545 and was held captive by Indians for 17 years, to the story of the Coast Guard cutter Bibb, which was sunk off Key Largo in 1987 to provide an artificial reef and diving site. In between there is the Atocha, flagship of a Spanish treasure fleet, which sank in a hurricane in September 1622 and was found, along with its $100 million worth of gold and silver, by Mel Fisher in July of 1985. Each shipwreck story has a map pinpointing its location and a full-color illustration by renowned artist William L. Trotter. There is an extensive bibliography and a foreword by Florida state underwater archaeologist Roger Smith.

"A fascinating shoreline tour from Fernandina's Amelia Island on the Atlantic to Pensacola on the Gulf."--Tampa Tribune "After reading this book, you might feel like jumping in your car and touring the lighthouses on the Florida coasts. If so, you'll be in luck, because Florida Lighthouses contains maps and directions for reaching each lighthouse, plus information about tours and fees."--Florida Times-Union "McCarthy covers the construction, history, and operations of the various lights in a most readable fashion . . . an outstanding self-guided tour. Trotter's color paintings of all thirty lighthouses are a great contribution to our national lighthouse heritage."--Rear Admiral Richard A. Bauman, U. S. Coast Guard Every night, from thirty-one points along Florida's thousand-mile coastline, fingers of light reach out through the darkness to guide the ships at sea. Kevin McCarthy has written the most complete guide available to Florida's lighthouses, each entry illustrated with a full-color reproduction of William Trotter's painting of the structure in its turn-of-the-century prime. McCarthy has collected a remarkable variety of legend, anecdote, and history and provides several pages of background on each lighthouse. Since many of Florida's lighthouses are open to the public, he also provides a map and detailed directions for reaching each one, as well as the best vantage point for viewing or taking photographs and information about exhibits, hours, and admission fees.

"A fascinating shoreline tour from Fernandina's Amelia Island on the Atlantic to Pensacola on the Gulf."--Tampa Tribune"After reading this book, you might feel like jumping in your car and touring the lighthouses on the Florida coasts. If so, you'll be in luck, because Florida Lighthouses contains maps and directions for reaching each lighthouse, plus information about tours and fees."--Florida Times-Union"McCarthy covers the construction, history, and operations of the various lights in a most readable fashion . . . an outstanding self-guided tour. Trotter's color paintings of all thirty lighthouses are a great contribution to our national lighthouse heritage."--Rear Admiral Richard A. Bauman, U. S. Coast GuardEvery night, from thirty-one points along Florida's thousand-mile coastline, fingers of light reach out through the darkness to guide the ships at sea. Kevin McCarthy has written the most complete guide available to Florida's lighthouses, each entry illustrated with a full-color reproduction of William Trotter's painting of the structure in its turn-of-the-century prime. McCarthy has collected a remarkable variety of legend, anecdote, and history and provides several pages of background on each lighthouse. Since many of Florida's lighthouses are open to the public, he also provides a map and detailed directions for reaching each one, as well as the best vantage point for viewing or taking photographs and information about exhibits, hours, and admission fees.