Island Guide
Events Calendar - Our West Cork Islands Events Guide!
Our events listings are packed with festivals, regattas, workshops, courses and more across West Cork's eight islands. If you're planning a trip to Bere, Dursey Heir, Cape Clear, Garnish, Sherkin, Long, or Whiddy islands, this is the place to find out what's on during your West Cork trip.
Search our events calendar by date or category to find the experience that's perfect for you.
A stay in West Cork isn't complete unless you've experienced a trip to the West Cork islands. So, head out to the islands, enjoy their beautiful land and seascapes, and immerse yourself in the very best of island life.
Find out what's on across the West Cork islands with our online events calendar!
Go on, get out there!
Bere Island Children’s Summer Camp 2022 will engage and entertain your children with a range of activities including sports, games and arts and crafts.
August 8th – August 10th 2022
Join this year’s Bere Island Children’s Summer Camp with a host of activities on the programme including arts, crafts and sports. This is a great opportunity for your children to explore new hobbies, make friends and create memories.
The Camp will be held at the GAA Pitch Rerrin and will run each day from 9:30 – 12:30pm
The summer camp is suitable for children aged 6 years to 12 years.
The cost is €5 per child with family discounts available.
For further details and to book contact Tim at timbipg@gmail.com or at 027 75099.
Bere Island Children’s Summer Camp 2022 will engage and entertain your children with a range of activities including sports, games and arts and crafts.
August 8th – August 10th 2022
Join this year’s Bere Island Children’s Summer Camp with a host of activities on the programme including arts, crafts and sports. This is a great opportunity for your children to explore new hobbies, make friends and create memories.
The Camp will be held at the GAA Pitch Rerrin and will run each day from 9:30 – 12:30pm
The summer camp is suitable for children aged 6 years to 12 years.
The cost is €5 per child with family discounts available.
For further details and to book contact Tim at timbipg@gmail.com or at 027 75099.
Heir Island Regatta is an annual fixture on the West Cork sailing calendar and gives visitors a great chance to see sailing skills in use.
The regatta is based at Heir Island Sailing School with the racing taking place within the sheltered waters of Roaringwater Bay. Across all ages, competition on the water is keen, but regatta day is not just about sailing — it is traditionally a day when people come to the island from the surrounding area to watch the action on the water, enjoy a picnic on the beach and join in the BBQ and festive atmosphere on shore.
A number of different types of yacht take part including the local Heir Island Sloops and Heir Island Lobster Boats in addition to smaller sailing boats and dinghies. A kayak race takes place from the shore.
Proceeds raised on the day go to the Baltimore Lifeboat Station and the Heir Island Community Council.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
13:00 – Registration at Heir Island Sailing School
13:30 – The regatta itself will begin with a Skipper’s Briefing at the Heir Island Sailing School
14:30 – Provisional Race Start
Prize Giving, Raffle and BBQ will follow race
ENTRY FEE (payable at Briefing)
Start times and course will be announced by the Race Officer
The following classes are invited to race:
Heir Island Lobster Boats – €20
Heir Island Sloops – €20
Dublin Bay Mermaids / NAT 18 – €20
Glenua 570s – €20
Topaz Dinghies – €10
Mixed Dinghies – €10
Kayaks will race from the shore – Free
Entry fee payable on registration
All participants do so entirely at their own risk
For more information about Heir Island visit their website
Join the Heir Island 5k Run August 11th 2022 and navigate from one end of the island to the other!
Registration Open
Suitable for all levels and abilities, this 5k Fun Run on Heir Island can be walked, jogged, or used as a test for your best time. You’ll enjoy taking in some spectacular scenery as the island offers you views across Roaringwater Bay, Long Island, Cape Clear, Fastnet and Sherkin.
Details
This event is open to everyone, whether you’re running, jogging, or walking, come along and enjoy the views. You will finish with plenty of time to stay and enjoy a picnic on this lovely island.
Car parking is available at Cunnamore Pier and the Heir Island ferry (5 mins) will run continuously on the day.
Free Run Series T-shirt when you pre-register online!
Other Information
The event is part of the West Cork Islands Run Series 2022
If you pre-register online you will receive an Active Islands Challenge t-shirt,
Your entry fee will will help to support the Heir Island Community Council, and the Fun Run is conducted in conjunction with the Cork Sports Partnership.
Bere Island Projects Group have programmed the following events for Heritage Week Bere Island.
National Heritage Week, an initiative by the Heritage Council, celebrates all things heritage. It brings together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation.
Event Listings
Heritage Week Bere Island
Recording Our Bere Island History
Thursday 18th August 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Location: Bere Island Heritage Centre
National Heritage Week runs from Saturday 13th August to Sunday 21st August
As part of the Burren Beo Trust’s Heritage Keepers programme, Bere Island Projects Group are recording an oral history of Bere Island, preserving the stories and voices of the island’s past for the future. For National Heritage Week 2022 we are launching Recording Our Bere Island History, making available a number of interviews that have already been recorded, outlining our ongoing plans for the project and members of the project will be on hand to give advice on best practice in recording an oral history interview.
Event Type
- An exhibition or display
- A training event or workshop
- A talk, conference or reading
- Suitable for families
- Car parking available
- Fully wheelchair accessible
- Vision impaired friendly
Wild Child Day at Lonehort Battery Bere Island
Saturday 20th August 1:00pm
Location: Lonehort Battery Main Gate
A guided tour for children (and their parents) of Lonehort Battery, Bere Island, the largest of seven gun batteries on the island. Surrounded by a deep, dry moat Lonehort Battery contains two coastal artillery guns, along with a network of underground tunnels. Led by licensed tour guides there will be lots of fun activities and the opportunity to learn about what life was like for those who were stationed at Lonehort during World War One. The battery is also home to a variety of wildflowers and butterflies and we will aim to see how many we can identify on our tour.
Booking is essential on 027 75099 or at bipginfo@gmail.com
Event Type
- A guided or specialist tour
- Suitable for families
- Specifically an event for children
- Car parking available
Enjoy a parkrun the Wild Atlantic Way when you join us on Bere Island for our weekly, timed 5k run!
The views across Bantry Bay are spectacular, and the event is suitable for all abilities: walk, jog or run and test yourself against your best time … It’s up to you!
The event takes place at the GAA club Rerrin village, Bere Island, Beara, Co. Cork, and it’s free to enter. To collect your time, you’ll need to be a registered parkrunner, and bring your barcode. You can register online here.
Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee in the Bakehouse cafe, Rerrin village, on the island – please come and join us!
Travel to the Bere Island parkrun
Two ferries run to Bere Island. One runs from the pontoon, just outside Castletownbere, into Rerrin village, just 5 minutes walk from the parkrun startline. It leaves at 8am during June, July and August only. See here for details.
The other leaves Castletownbere for the island’s West End at 9am each Saturday throughout the year. From there, you can join the weekly parkrun bus service. Call Colum on 086 2423140 to book the ferry and bus for a special deal of €10.
Accommodation
To find out more about accommodation available on Bere Island, see http://bereisland.net
Heritage Week | Whiddy Island
National Heritage Week runs from Saturday 13th August to Sunday 21st August
National Heritage Week, an initiative by the Heritage Council, celebrates all things heritage. It brings together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation.
Event Listings
She Gathered Seaweeds on the Seashore
13 August, 11:30am – 1:30pm
Location: Event begins on the strand by Whiddy Island’s pier at low tide
As part of Heritage Week | Whiddy Island “She Gathered Seaweeds on the SeaShore” will be led by Frances Gallagher, aquatic biologist, and Carrie O’Flynn, historical re-enactor and period costume maker.
Frances will share her knowledge of Bantry Bay’s seaweeds and their uses as food and soil improvers. She will then guide you in gathering small seaweed pieces for specimens. As the tide comes in, you will move to the marquee by Bank House for a practical session spreading the seaweed specimens on paper with careful guidance from Frances.
Carrie will show the equipment that Ellen would have used over 200 years ago and there will be images of Ellen’s seaweed specimens and drawings to examine.
More information available here.
This Heritage Week event is free & no booking required.
Ferries leave Bantry’s Main Pier at 11am, returning at 1:45pm, 3:45pm and 5:45pm. €6.50 return
Event Type
-
- A guided or specialist tour
- Suitable for families
Letters from the Sea:
Seaweed and cyanotype workshop
13 August, 3pm – 5pm
Location: Community Hall, Whiddy Island, Bantry
Inspired by the work of Anna Atkins (1799-1871), artist Sybille Neumeyer is inviting you to explore the poetic encounter of seaweed, water and light through cyanotypes (an early photogram technique using sunlight sensitive paper).
In dialogue with, and supported by the local community Sybille researched the protection of marine ecologies, climate change and relationships with the sea, while experimenting with sound recordings and algae in West Cork last year during the Glenkeen Garden “Art/ Nature” residency by Crespo Foundation. The Ellen Hutchins Festival is delighted that she has offered to run this very special workshop for them. Carrie O’Flynn, historical re-enactor, and Madeline Hutchins, researcher on Ellen, will also contribute to the session.
More Information available here.
Cost: €30 per person (plus ferry)
Places must be booked and paid for in advance
Event Type
- A training event or workshop
- Natural Heritage event
Be part of the 6th annual 5k race on Cape Clear this August!
Registration Open
It’s certainly going to be a mug’s race on Cape Clear Island this August! Join island residents for this fun 5k race with great views.
The run is part of a series of fun races on various West Cork Islands. Winners in the different categories can expect to win specially commissioned Cape Clear Island mugs, captioned Rithigí Linn 2018.
Thanks to our local goat farmer Ed Harper, this year’s event will start at the Heritage Centre and go through his working goat farm. With fabulous views framed by a magnificent landscape, you’ll follow the old Bóthar Lár back onto the main Island loop leading back to North Harbour.
Free Run Series T-shirt when you pre-register online!
It’s a great event, in a great setting, and – if last year’s festive atmosphere is anything to go by – it will be enjoyed by all, runners, joggers, and walkers alike.
More Details to Follow!
This event is part of the West Cork Islands Run Series 2022!
West Cork Runners Retreat – Bere Island
Need an island escape to look forward to this summer? A little reminder that this is the last week to avail of early bird pricing on our two exciting new running retreats in West Cork. Be sure to register your interest this week before prices increase. A few places left on both July and August dates.
We will have two retreats (July and August) this summer 2022 at this fabulous venue.
- July :Monday 25th – Thursday 28th
- Aug :Monday 15th – Thursday 18th
After an amazing retreat in West Cork in 2019 pre covid, we are excited to return again now to the beautiful Beara Peninsula in 2022. This year we have a new exciting venue as our base on the glorious Bere Island. We will spend our 4 day (3 night) escapes at the spectacular Wild Atlantic Glamping.
A true escape – the views don’t get any more spectacular than here.
What will we be doing?
From a running perspective, the focus will be on enjoyment of our running, taking some time to focus on mindful running, technique, mobility, injury prevention and planning for our running future. There is no pressure to run fast or run far! In fact, we want you to leave feeling refreshed rather than tired.
Our summer escapes are suitable for anyone who can run 5k between 25 and 35 minutes and possibly have run 10k in the past. Any longer runs we do on the escape will have plenty breaks along the way.
Mary will be leading all these running getaways and you may also get to meet some more of our coaches along the way! More about Mary’s coaching.
Book your place: Please email Mary if you are keen to book in with your accommodation preference, any dietary requirements and a little info about the running you currently do.
About
Mary founded ForgetTheGym 15 years ago when she left her ‘proper job’ to follow her passion for moving outdoors. A relative late comer to fitness, Mary understands what it’s like not to feel ‘sporty’ and loves building confidence in new runners and helping people reach their running goals.
Mary is the author of the book ‘Get Running’ published in 2019 by Gill Books. She is a regular columnist with The Irish Times and a frequent voice on radio, television and print (See latest media). She has plenty practise on the roads herself having completed over 45 marathons and ultramarathons.
Enjoy a parkrun the Wild Atlantic Way when you join us on Bere Island for our weekly, timed 5k run!
The views across Bantry Bay are spectacular, and the event is suitable for all abilities: walk, jog or run and test yourself against your best time … It’s up to you!
The event takes place at the GAA club Rerrin village, Bere Island, Beara, Co. Cork, and it’s free to enter. To collect your time, you’ll need to be a registered parkrunner, and bring your barcode. You can register online here.
Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee in the Bakehouse cafe, Rerrin village, on the island – please come and join us!
Travel to the Bere Island parkrun
Two ferries run to Bere Island. One runs from the pontoon, just outside Castletownbere, into Rerrin village, just 5 minutes walk from the parkrun startline. It leaves at 8am during June, July and August only. See here for details.
The other leaves Castletownbere for the island’s West End at 9am each Saturday throughout the year. From there, you can join the weekly parkrun bus service. Call Colum on 086 2423140 to book the ferry and bus for a special deal of €10.
Accommodation
To find out more about accommodation available on Bere Island, see http://bereisland.net
Do the Do Run Run on Sherkin Island on August 20th 2022!
Registration Open
There will be 3k and 8k routes available, and the Do Run Run route will cover a combination of roads, off-road terrain, and beaches. People can run, jog or walk, taking in some spectacular island views along the way! This is a non-competitive event with the emphasis on fun and enjoyment.
The event will start and finish at the Islander’s Rest Hotel which is only a short walk from the pier. There will be a bag drop facility at the hotel and changing facilities if required. There will be a party on the lawn in the Islander’s Rest directly after the event including live music.
We will have a common start at 14:45 with two courses to choose from. The two routes meet up for the last 2kms if you want to rejoin other family members.
This event, run in conjunction with the Cork Sports Partnership, is part of the West Cork Islands Run Series 2022. Pre-register online to claim your event t-shirt on the day!
The organisations that will benefit this year’s event are The Wild Atlantic Swimming Pool and The Buy The Old School group.
Ferries depart from Baltimore – see details on the Sherkin Ferry website.
Discounted return ferry from Baltimore 10 euro per adult and 3 euro per child U16. The event will start at 2.45pm so ferry to suit would be 12.00noon or 2.00pm. You must have an event number to avail of the discount and retain it for your return journey.
Three Day Sea Kayaking Safari with H2O Kayaking – Sherkin Island
Join our exciting three day sea kayaking safari from Sherkin Island, West Cork, Ireland
Dates
- June 17th -19th Fully Booked
- July 15th-17th Spaces available
- August 5th-7th Spaces available
- August 26th-28th Spaces available
Come to Sherkin Island to experience the peace and tranquillity of island life while at the same time exploring one of Irelands best kept secrets.You will have the time to relax and watch the world go by from the comfort of a kayak and the end of a day’s paddling sit with friends watching the sunset over Roaring Water Bay.
Prices start from €395 per person including accommodation, meals, and equipment.
You will be fully equipped with a kayak to suit your ability level and size along with all the necessary equipment for your adventure. After a safety briefing and basic training, our expert local guides will share their knowledge and love of the sea with you on this exploration of the island.
Our tours are run in an environmentally sound way to minimize the impact on wildlife
Itinerary
Day 1
On the day of arrival after checking in and a good meal, you will paddle at sunset or by moonlight in the sheltered waters of the Cúinne to get acquainted with your kayak.
Day 2
The second day will see us explore the islands, deserted beaches and pristine coastline of Sherkin Island and the surrounding area. We’ll stop for lunch along the way in one of the many sheltered coves or beaches, watching the seals as they watch us! Your expert local guide will bring you safely to places only accessible by sea kayak, tell you stories of piracy of old and share his knowledge of the wild life in the Bay.
Day 3
Dawn is often the calmest part of the day so on the last day we’ll rise early to welcome in the day with a gentle paddle before (second!) breakfast. The rest of the day can be spent wandering the lanes and beaches of the island on foot before heading home that afternoon.
Whether you are an experienced paddler or a first timer we can tailor our tours to suit.
H2O is run by Pat Rodgers, an experienced kayaker and all-around adventurer.
Based on Sherkin Island in the heart of West Cork’s Carberry Isles. 3-day safaris!
Enjoy a parkrun the Wild Atlantic Way when you join us on Bere Island for our weekly, timed 5k run!
The views across Bantry Bay are spectacular, and the event is suitable for all abilities: walk, jog or run and test yourself against your best time … It’s up to you!
The event takes place at the GAA club Rerrin village, Bere Island, Beara, Co. Cork, and it’s free to enter. To collect your time, you’ll need to be a registered parkrunner, and bring your barcode. You can register online here.
Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee in the Bakehouse cafe, Rerrin village, on the island – please come and join us!
Travel to the Bere Island parkrun
Two ferries run to Bere Island. One runs from the pontoon, just outside Castletownbere, into Rerrin village, just 5 minutes walk from the parkrun startline. It leaves at 8am during June, July and August only. See here for details.
The other leaves Castletownbere for the island’s West End at 9am each Saturday throughout the year. From there, you can join the weekly parkrun bus service. Call Colum on 086 2423140 to book the ferry and bus for a special deal of €10.
Accommodation
To find out more about accommodation available on Bere Island, see http://bereisland.net
Cape Clear Storytelling Festival is one of Ireland’s most distinctive and best-loved festivals.
Cape Clear Storytelling Festival are delighted to announce that this year’s festival is a hybrid event with a combination of both live events on beautiful Cape Clear Island and some evening online performances that can be shared with our storytelling community around the world.
Due to this year’s festival format, all events require advanced booking- please see our programme page to get your ticket.
In 2022, the festival will run from 2nd – 4th September. It celebrates one of the world’s oldest art forms, and brings storytellers and listeners together for amazing experiences in the unique setting on Ireland’s southernmost inhabited island.
Cape Clear is situated 8 miles off the coast of Baltimore in West Cork. The stunning scenery and local folklore make this the perfect setting for this long-running and much-loved storytelling festival.
The event is one of the most renowned festivals in the world storytelling calendar. Each year it brings together some of the most accomplished tellers from around the world. The event gives visitors to Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way the opportunity to meet the best Irish exponents of the storytelling art in an intimate and dramatic island environment.
For full details, how to get to Cape Clear, places to stay. and places to eat on the island, see the festival website at http://capeclearstorytelling.com
Check out the event programme here.
You will need to book early to find a place to stay on Cape Clear!
Enjoy a parkrun the Wild Atlantic Way when you join us on Bere Island for our weekly, timed 5k run!
The views across Bantry Bay are spectacular, and the event is suitable for all abilities: walk, jog or run and test yourself against your best time … It’s up to you!
The event takes place at the GAA club Rerrin village, Bere Island, Beara, Co. Cork, and it’s free to enter. To collect your time, you’ll need to be a registered parkrunner, and bring your barcode. You can register online here.
Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee in the Bakehouse cafe, Rerrin village, on the island – please come and join us!
Travel to the Bere Island parkrun
Two ferries run to Bere Island. One runs from the pontoon, just outside Castletownbere, into Rerrin village, just 5 minutes walk from the parkrun startline. It leaves at 8am during June, July and August only. See here for details.
The other leaves Castletownbere for the island’s West End at 9am each Saturday throughout the year. From there, you can join the weekly parkrun bus service. Call Colum on 086 2423140 to book the ferry and bus for a special deal of €10.
Accommodation
To find out more about accommodation available on Bere Island, see http://bereisland.net