"At the very mouth of the harbour there runneth out a narrow neck of land which presented unto the sailors a high turret erected by the citizens of Ros when they were in a flourishing state that they might more safely enter into the river's mouth"

Perched fortress like over some of the most treacherous waters in Ireland, the lighthouse tower was built by the Marshals about 1207, perhaps after a design seen by William at Acre while on the crusades. The Welsh monks of Rinn Dubhain had kept a bonfire blazing to alert shipping, for many centuries. The Vikings, finding such activities useful, did not disturb them. The Norman lighthouse, virtually unchanged, functions to this day.

On the panel, one of William Marshal's men oversees the lighting of the beacon at evening tide. Shipping is thrown around in choppy waters as they leave the open sea for the estuary and the new port of Ros.

On the upper border the exotica being imported into the Leinster area at the time are shown.

In the centre a whale blows water sky high, while below in the lower border blowholes erupts in fields around the tower.

Dubhain's bonfire is flanked by the emblems of Wales, the daffodil and the leek. The rich black soil of the peninsula is seen being cultivated in strips as was common at the time. The ruins of the early parish church is seen and the puffin a native of the nearly Saltee Islands feeds her young amid the sea pinks.