Sherkin Island, historically called Inisherkin (Irish: Inis Earcáin), lies southwest of County Cork in Ireland alongside other islands of Roaringwater Bay. It had a population of 106 people at the time of the 2006 Census,[1] measures 3 miles long by 1.5 miles wide (5 km by 3 km). The island has a primary school, two pubs, a hotel, B&B, community centre and a Roman Catholic church.
Contents |
The Ferry to Sherkin sails from Baltimore on the mainland. This island is a tourist destination and it takes just 10–15 minutes to get to Sherkin from Baltimore. The journey to the neighbouring Gaeltacht island Cape Clear takes on average approximately 40 minutes.
Sherkin has its own special character. Many of Sherkin's residents are active in the fields of art: island craft, paintings and book writing, all inspired by Sherkin's tranquil lifestyle.
The busiest season starts with school summer holidays when people with young families visit the island. The busiest day of the year is a celebration of Sherkin Regatta, usually held on the 3rd weekend in July, but which is postponed to August if weather does not allow. On this day the island is crowded with sea rowers and their fans. Children's activities, music and food stalls are all part of this Sherkin fair.
Sherkin is the second most southerly point of Ireland after Cape Clear. It is said that when the frost covers the lawns of Baltimore just across the bay, the grass remains unfrosted on the island. Like any other coastal part of Ireland, Sherkin can be affected by heavy coastal gales. The weather pattern since 2002 seems to be changing.
Sherkin once had a population of around 1,000, which started to decline during the Great Irish Famine in the mid-19th Century. Now the population is reduced and varies greatly between the summer and the winter months, with increases in summer as people return to holiday houses and tourists arrive. People from all over the globe discovered this secluded spot and consequently settled down here: America, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain and Russia. The new arrivals integrate well with the Irish community which is still the lifeblood of the island. Amongst Sherkiners one can find artists, book writers, craft workers (crafts), musicians and photographers ( Terry Farnell and Nuala Mahon ), beekeepers and pilots, cattle, mussel and oyster farmers, biologists, botanists and oceanologists, fishermen and sailors, teachers and doctors, horselovers and strawberry growers.
Sherkin's ferry boat is the Mystic Waters. During the summer (roughly 1 June-30 September) it makes ten daily trips from 07.45 to 20.30 on weekdays, from 9.00 on Saturdays and from 10.30 on Sundays. During the winter months the last ferry leaves Baltimore at 17.30, with late ferries on three days:
The roads on Sherkin are narrow and often in poor condition. Most of the cars on the island are very old and . are no longer suitable for use on the mainland. Some are using more advanced transport options such as ATV's. Cycling and walking are popular amongst the healthier Sherkiners and holday makers with an occasional horse ride also an option. There is a rural transport service on the island, it meets every ferry and costs €2 per trip. Sherkin does not currently have a helicopter landing pad and the terrain may be unsuitable for a runway.
There are a number of important archaeological remains on Sherkin, with some of them being restored. A friary, the Mainster Inis Arcain is just uphill from the ferry pier. The seat of the O'Driscoll Clan was Dun-na-Long Castle. These two buildings were heavily damaged in 1537 when citizens of Waterford invaded the island after a dispute over a seized and plundered ship. Sherkin has an automated Lighthouse, maintained by locals. It is situated at Barrack Point and dates back to 1835. The lighthouse marks the southern entrance to Baltimore Harbour and the Baltimore Beacon. On the south-western side of the island there is a fully functioning Roman Catholic church.
Visitors can take a direct ferry trip to Sherkin or book sea safari trip round the islands. Tourists can also avail of guided tours around the islands.
Once on Sherkin pier, people can visit the Franciscan friary, if it is open. It is locally known as "the Abbey" and has a photo exhibition inside and some displays outside. Tourists can climb up the stairs on to an open landing to observe local scenery: the Beacon, Baltimore harbour, Sherkin pier, fields with cows and the old post office. Most families go straight to the beach (Silver Strand, Cow Strand or Trabawn) and visit local exhibitions on the way or visit Horseshoe Harbour.
In autumn, there are abundant wild blackberries, which are picked by people and used to make blackberry Jam, blackberry tarts and other confections.
Sherkin also contains camp facilities.
Sherkin is one of the cleanest islands but it has no local refuse disposal facilities, so all campers are encouraged to bring minimum packaging and make sure to take the litter back to the mainland or recycle cans and bottles on Sherkin pier. The best place for barbecues is Silver Strand where there is a choice of soft grass or warm sand to rest on.
The island has a local development officer. It has its community based organisation called SIDS Sherkin Island Development Society.