Laura,

The docents escort you in groups up the tower. The photo of the lens is in the lower vault of the tower. We stopped there first and were told about the history of the tower and that this area was used to store the coal they were burning in the open fire at the top of the tower.
The next two levels were the living areas. The docent told us about the monks and others who had kept the light over the years. The top of the wide part of the light is as high as tourists can go. The wide part of the tower dates from the 13th century. The smaller diameter part of the light above this point dates from the 19th century.

Here is the Irish Lighthouse Commision's page on Hook Head.
http://www.commissionersofirishlights.com/cil/aids-to-navigation/lighthouses/hook-head.aspx


Eric