Cape Clear Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cape Clear Island, (official name: Cléire and sometimes also referred to in Irish as 'Oileán Chléire'), 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.
On the island is a primary school which was built in 1897. In 1998 Mary McAleese, the President of Ireland at the time, visited it. 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.
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[edit] Townlands
The townlands of the island include:
- 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
- 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 Islands 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
[edit] See also
- Munster Irish
- An episode in the novel Ghostwritten takes place here.
[edit] External links
- Oilean-chleire.ie - Official website
- Cape Clear bird observatory
- Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival
- A visit to Cape Clear
- Cork Ancestors Cape Clear/Tullig
- Irish Language Courses & Translation Services
- Cape Clear Island Ferry Service
