Mizen Head is the most south-westerly point on mainland Ireland. It's strategic location, close to a main trans-Atlantic shipping route, made it a natural place for a fog signal station, which became operational in 1909. The fog signal was an explosive charge fired at intervals by resident lighthouse keepers.

The Mizen Bridge spans a gap in the cliffs to Cloghane Island, where the signal station is located. The present bridge was rebuilt in 2009/10, using the same through-arch design as the original reinforced concrete bridge of 1909. 

The headland and its buildings are now a popular tourist attraction on the Wild Atlantic Way.