West Cork Islands

Go on, get out there!

What’s On

The West Cork Islands Run Series 2019

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Put on your running shoes and take in spectacular coastal views by joining the ongoing series of West Cork Island summertime runs!

Whether you’re committed to running and looking to beat your personal best in stunning surroundings, or you’re looking for a fun and energetic day out with your running buddies in a unique location, we’ve got a run for you. Each island’s course has its own challenges and amazing views to spur you on.

There are distances to suit everyone, with a mixture of courses and distances for all types of runners.

Be part of some great runs on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way!

Choose one race to work towards, or be an island-running hero and tackle them all!

And there’ll be plenty of craic after each race with music & BBQs too!

Bere Island’s weekly parkrun

If you can’t make it for one of the summer run series events, why not join Bere Island’s regular parkrunners for an experience of island running? You’ll take in spectacular views across the island, Bantry Bay and the Sheep’s Head and Beara peninsulas as you run.

Bantry Bay Adventure Race 2019

The summer’s greatest island challenge will take place on August 31st with the third annual Bantry Bay Adventure Race drawing competitors from far and near to tackle running on Whiddy Island, kayaking on the Bantry Bay Blueway, and cycling on the Sheep’s Head peninsula which flanks Whiddy and Bere islands.

With limited spaces, an amazing course, and wonderful views, it’s going to an event to remember for competitors and spectators alike!

Remember, there are regattas on throughout the summer too, so if sailing’s your thing, check out our events calendar for details.

Bantry Bay Adventure Race

Active Islands West Cork

Get a Taste of West Cork on the Islands

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A Taste of West Cork Food Festival is coming to the islands this September to give visitors a real flavour of West Cork island life

West Cork’s inhabited islands have some great flavours to offer as well as amazing stories to tell, so sign up for events throughout the award-winning foodie festival which runs from 7th to 16th September 2018.

Make sure you book in for what are set to be sell out events!

1. Sherkin Island Barbecue with Derry Clarke

Saturday 8th September: 1pm-5pm
Award-winning chef Derry Clarke will once again be behind the coals cooking up a feast at this annual fundraiser barbecue in aid of RNLI Baltimore’s lifeboat station. Find out more

2. Tarte Tatin Demonstration and Tasting with John Desmond

Sunday 9th September:2pm & 2:30pm (Heir Island)
Enjoy a demonstration and tasting on Heir Island with John Desmond of Heir’s famous Island cottage restaurant. John will share his secrets for making tart tatin in two free demonstrations. Find out more

3. Long Island Discovery

Monday September 10th: 10am-2pm
Reconnect with nature on an island where nature rules, and enjoy a gorgeous home-made lunch after your guided tour!
<Find out more

4. Bere Island and the Great Famine

Wednesday September 12th: 12-2pm
Bere Island – strategically situated as a buffer to the mainland – has an fascinating history that can be told through its stories of food and famine. Learn more on this fascinating guided tour. Find out more

5. Tea and Tales on Dursey Island

Thursday September 13th: 2:30pm-5:30pm
Journey across Dursey Sound to get a taste of life on this storied island which is accessed by Ireland’s only cable car! Find out more

6. The Palette and the Plate: A Guided Sherkin Island Art Tour

Friday September 14th [SOLD OUT]
Explore the links between the palette and the plate as Sherkin Island’s artists invite you into their galleries on a tour as part of A Taste of West Cork Festival 2018.
Find out more

7. Cape Clear Caper

Saturday September 15th from 10:30am – 4:30pm
Explore Cape Clear Island with a local historian and biologist, visiting a local farm and the heritage centre which celebrates the Fastnet Lighthouse before enjoying a delicious meal that ends with seaweed-flavoured ice-cream.
Find out more

8. Wild Weed Feed on Heir Island

Saturday September 15th: 12pm-3:30pm
Learn about the many edible varieties of seaweed found all around Roaringwater Bay with Heir Island resident and seaweed expert Christine Thery. Find out more

9. Explore Whiddy Island: Guided Walk & Lunch

Saturday September 15th: 11am ferry, 4pm or 6pm return.
Join Whiddy Island’s Tim O’Leary for a guided walking tour and a seafood lunch on Whiddy Island – it’s a great opportunity to learn about island traditions and Whiddy’s intriguing military past. Find out more

10. Bere Island and the Great Famine

[REPEAT EVENT] Saturday September 15th: 12-2pm
Bere Island – strategically situated as a buffer to the mainland – has an fascinating history that can be told through its stories of food and famine. Learn more on this fascinating guided tour. Find out more

11. Inspired by the Island: Alicia ní Ghráinne at the Jolly Roger

Saturday 15th September: 7pm-11pm
The Jolly Roger on Sherkin Island, in association with the West Cork Supper Club, hosts an evening inspired by the island’s seascape and landscape. Using local, seasonable and sustainable produce, guest chef Alicia ní Ghráinne with Geraldine Swift, will produce a series of courses featuring, seafood, foraged island ingredients, seaweed and local vegetables.
Find out more

12. Good Things Cafe goes to Heir Island

Sunday September 16th from 12:00pm onwards
Carmel Somers, proprietress of Good Things Cafe, grew up spending lots of time on Heir Island with her family. Join her as she brings her famous food to a place dear to her family’s heart.
Find out More.

And, to stay healthy with all this great food around, why not head a Bere Island parkrun one Saturday morning during your visit?

A Taste of West Cork Festival is the perfect excuse to visit the West Cork islands. For full details of Festival’s island events, see https://westcorkislands.com/calendar.

For the full festival programme which includes events across the region, see http://atasteofwestcork.com

To keep up to date with events on the West Cork islands, subscribe to our West Cork Islands newsletter!

Get Set for an Active Summer on the West Cork Islands

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Get set for an active summer on the West Cork islands when you sign up to take part in one of the great events we have planned on land and sea!

The 7 inhabited islands on West Cork’s coastline are buzzing with activity as the islands get set for a summer packed with runs, regattas, and adventure races.

An island run series will take in 5k events on Cape Clear (4th August) and Heir Island (16th August), while the Bantry Bay Adventure Race on 25th August involves an island run as well as kayaking on Bantry Bay and cycling too. Bere Island’s Midsummer Run (14th July) and Sherkin’s Do Run Run (11th August) are already firmly established as favourites with Cork runners, and the weekly Bere Island parkrun – named as one of the best parkruns in the world – regularly attracts visitors from across the world to run, jog or walk an island route.

‘The active islands events are a great way of bringing islanders and visitors together’, says Sherkin Island’s Aisling Moran. ‘Whether people are running, jogging, sailing, or hiking on the islands’ trails, they have the chance to mix with islanders as well as take in the spectacular views.’

‘The Wild Atlantic Way is really capturing people’s imaginations,’ adds John Moore of Heir Island Sailing School. ‘More and more people are looking to take on the challenge of exploring the islands in active ways, whether that involves learning to sail on Roaringwater Bay, practising yoga at a Heir island retreat, or taking in the sights at an island regatta.’

Island Regattas & Walks

Regattas on Sherkin Island (1st July) and Heir Island (16th August) are annual events popular with the sailing community, but islanders are also seeing a strong rise in the number of visitors coming to stay on the islands to make the most of their walking trails.

‘Each island has its own distinct character and terrain and people really enjoy discovering that for themselves’, says Whiddy Island’s Tim O’Leary, who provides guided walks on Whiddy Island every bank holiday weekend throughout the year. ‘When the Bantry Bay Adventure Race takes place or when people come out to visit for a family walk, people are absolutely in awe of the fantastic views and the peace they find here. The island setting added a whole new dimension to the experience. There’s definitely growing interest in events that give people the chance to explore our bays and islands.’

The ‘active islands’ concept captures the work done to date by the West Cork Islands Community Sports Hub, a Sport Ireland initiative coordinated by Cork Sports Partnership and supported locally by the island communities.

To register for events or find out more about the programme on offer, see https://westcorkislands.com/active-islands or contact 086 303 0991.

Contact:
086 303 0991 info@westcorkislands.com

Summer on Sherkin Island!

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Sherkin Island

West Cork’s Sherkin Island is known as the artists’ isle, and there are exhibitions and workshops on offer throughout the summer of 2018

June

16th June (daily to 1st July) Samradh Le Cheile – Community Art Exhibition

July

15-20th July – Sherkin Island Vocal Workshop (Experienced)
22-27th July – Sherkin Island Vocal Workshop (Beginners)
28th July – 10th August The Paintbrush Meets Lens [Art & Photography Exhibition]

August

11th August – Pop-Up Choir on Sherkin Island
11th August – Sherkin Island Do Run Run
28th July – 10th August The Paintbrush Meets Lens [Art & Photography Exhibition]

September

14th September The Palette & The Plate: Guided Art Tour

For more information, contact:
Aisling Moran – 087 766 9657
http://www.sherkinisland.eu/

Whiddy Island Loop Walk

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Take a walk on Whiddy Island – one of West Cork’s seven inhabited islands!

Whiddy Island Loop Walk is situated in Bantry Bay between the Beara and Sheep’s Head peninsulas, and it’s home to a walk that offers spectacular views across Bantry Bay and the neighbouring landscapes.

Whiddy Island Loop Walk

Walk Details

From the Bantry head towards the pier (just past the new Supervalu) and take the Whiddy Island Ferry. The trip across Bantry Bay takes about 20 minutes and gives you a stunning view of Bantry House (weather dependent).

From the Whiddy Island Trailhead set out along the road. At the T-junction take a left. There is a finger post sign there, take the  Tranaha option. At the next way marker take a right over a timber stile and continue off-road uphill along a path. At the second timber stile you will begin to descend the hill. You will encounter two more timber stiles before re-joining the road again. At the fourth timber stile continue on to your right.

From here on follow the road and way markers back to the trailhead. We recommend you take a moment to stop at the Bank House pub before you make your way back to Bantry.

Please note the seasonal ferry times to Whiddy Island before setting out from the pier at Bantry. Also, please refrain from bringing your dogs on this walk.

Start / Finish:The pier on Whiddy Island
Length:5 km
Elevation:30 metres
Estimated Time:1hr (based on average walking speed of 3km per hour)
Grade:Moderate
Minimum Gear:Walking boots, rain gear, fluid, and a mobile phone.
Ferry Timetable:Check details here

Sherkin Island Horseshoe Loop

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Salt spray, views of Roaringwater Bay, and ancient ruins await you on Sherkin Island

Horseshoe Loop on Sherkin Island is an attractive and enjoyable walking trail which is made up of minor roadways and green tracks and takes in the eastern end of Sherkin Island in the area between Horseshoe and Kinish Harbours with views across Horseshoe Harbour and the Island.

Walk Details

Start / Finish:First junction above the pier on Sherkin Island
Length:2 km
Elevation:40 metres
Estimated Time:1hr
Grade:Easy
Minimum Gear:Walking boots, rain gear, fluid, and a mobile phone.
Ferry Timetable:Check details here

 

More Information

For a more detailed description of what awaits you on this walk click HERE to read an article in the Irish Examiner.

Want to know more about Sherkin Island? Click HERE and take a look!

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