In March we hope to have our new shop ready. for the last two years we have been plotting and planning renovations for Mizen Shop. It has been an interesting journey. We have taken advice from professionals and experts. We have been far and wide studying and experiencing many shops and visitor attractions. And then we started by demolishing the shop and office. The original shop was built in the second phase of the project. In 2001 we opened a new building with the Navigational AIDS Simulator, a Ticket office, a shop and a 1/10 scale model of the Fastnet Lighthouse surrounded by a magnificent mural looking back from the ocean towards the Mizen Peninsula. The sun was just setting in the west.
For the new shop we have continued our theme and extended the sky to the other gable in the east. Gradually the sun sinks and we have a wonderful sky at night showing many of the familiar constellations and the Milky Way high on the gable. Although we never open at night so we can’t see it, the night sky at the Mizen is untouched by any terrestrial lights. This way you can experience it as well.
We have taken out the ticket office and now have a new desk/ counter. There is one side for shop purchases and another for ticket sales. In 2008 the Navigational AIDS Simulator was relocated to its own room in the third phase of the project. However the old bridge was still in the shop. That hs been dismantled as well. The space we have is surprisingly large, but no doubt we won’t be long filling it up!