Clear Island

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Clear Island (Irish language: Oileán Chléire), known locally as Cape Clear, lies south west of County Cork in the Republic of Ireland. It is the southernmost inhabited part of the Republic and has a population of over 100 people. It forms part of the Gaeltacht, meaning that it is one of the few places in Ireland where Irish is still the spoken language.

The island is divided into east and west halves by an isthmus. Ferries sail from the North Harbour to Schull and Baltimore on the mainland. The South Harbour is a popular berth for yachts.

The island is known as the birthplace of Saint Ciarán, for the Dún an Óir fort, and for its birdlife, including Black and Common Guillemots, Cormorants and storm petrels. Seals, basking sharks and dolphins are found in the surrounding water, while sea pinks and honeysuckle are common plants on the land.

Cape Clear is also home to a lighthouse and a bird observatory.

Wild indigenous snakes are not thought to exist anywhere on the mainland of Ireland, however natives of Cape Clear claim that the island "is home to small wild snakes". On the island is a primary school where it was built in 1897. The current president of Ireland came to visit it in 1998. It has two teachers

Every first weekend of September, Cape hosts the Cape Clear Island International Storytelling Festival, which has been running annually since 1994. The festival features professional international storytellers from all over the world.

1 Townlands
2 Archaeology of Cape Clear
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Townlands

The townlands of the island include:

An Cumar
Baile Iarthach Theas
Baile Iarthach Thuaidh
Cnocán an Choimthigh
Gleann Iarthach
Gleann Meánach
Gleann Oirtheach
Coinnlín
Crathach Thiar
Crathach Thoir
Cill Leice Fórabhain
Lios O Móine
Cnocán na mBairneach
Gort na Lobhar
An tArdghort
Ceathrúna
Comalán

[edit] Archaeology of Cape Clear

Islands of Roaringwater Bay and Long Island Bay

Boulder Burial,Gort na Lobhar (Gortnalour)
Burial Ground,Baile Iarthach (Ballyieragh), Cill Leire Forabhain (Comillane)also Children's Burial Ground, Lios O Moine (Lissamona)
Celtic Art Stone with later cross inscription Celtic Iron Age 600 B.C. - 400 A.D., Crathach Thiar (Croha West)
Church, Baile Iarthach (Ballyieragh) in ruins 1693
Cross Slab, Lios O Moine (Lissamona), Baile Iarthach (Ballyieragh)
Cup Mark Stone, Cill Leire Forabhain (Comillane) now in Cape Clear Museum
Fulach Fiadh (Cooking Pit), Gort na Lobhar (Gortnalour), Cnocan na mBairneach (Knockannamurnagh)
Holy Well,Cill Leire Forabhain (Comillane), Baile Iarthach (Ballyieragh) visited on St. Kieran's day 5th March
Medieval post 1200 A.D. O'Driscoll Castle
Passage Tomb 4000 - 2200 B.C.,Cill Leire Forabhain (Comilane) found 1880
Promontory Fort Celtic Iron Age 600B,C. - 400 A.D. at Baile Iarthach (Ballyieragh),Cnocan na mBairneach (Knockannamurnagh)
Ringfort, Lios O Moine (Lissamona)
Signal Tower, Gleann Iarthach (Glen West) burned early 19th century
Stone Pair, Cill Leire Forabhain (Comillane), Neolithic 4000 - 2200 B.C.
Tower House and Bawn, Baile Iarthach (Ballyieragh) O'Driscoll

[edit] References

The Wild Plants of Sherkin, Cape Clear and adjacent Islanda of West Cork, John Akeroyd, editor, Sherkin Island Marine Station 1996 ISBN
Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, Vol 1 West Cork, Office of Public Works, 1992 ISBN
Cape Clear Island , Éamon Lankford, 1999 ISBN