The West Cork Shared Story
It’s
no wonder they call West Cork “A Place Apart”. Nature sets the pace in
this beautiful south west corner of Ireland – stretching from smart
south-coast Kinsale to three rugged westerly peninsulas reaching into
the wild Atlantic: Mizen Head, Sheep’s Head and Beara.
West
Cork is the place many Dubliners head for – leaving hurried city lives
behind to play along the long zig-zagging coastline, and walk or ride
through peaceful inland woods and valleys.
Hundreds
of inlets, tiny coves, safe harbours and blue-flag beaches are just
right for long active days in the salty air – learning to sail, surfing,
diving, whale watching, island-hopping, bird spotting, kayaking on a
salt-water lake in the moonlight, messing about in boats. Or simply
eating a fresh crab sandwich on a quayside.
Thanks
to its gentle and generous Nature, this corner has a wonderful food
culture. West Cork’s farmers, award-winning artisan producers and chefs
are leading Ireland’s culinary revolution. From traditional pubs to
world-class restaurants, at local farmers’ markets, and long-established
food festivals, you can enjoy great food right across West Cork.
There’s
something restorative about the temperate climate and sub-tropical
gardens, the tranquil lanes thick with fuchsia and monbretia, the sudden
glimpses of water through the trees, the shifting light, and the soft
greens, greys and violets of bays and distant mountains.
There’s
edge-of-the-world drama too: climbing up to a mountain pass through
ever-changing weather, crossing the bridge to the end of Mizen Head with
the Atlantic crashing below, or taking the cable car to Dursey Island -
one of over a hundred West Cork islands. Seven of these are inhabited,
including Ireland’s most southerly community on Oiléan Chléire (Cape Clear) “the storytellers’ island”, where Irish is spoken as a first language, and there’s an
independent way of life.
Beyond
Cape Clear, the imposing Fastnet Lighthouse stands on a rock known as
Ireland’s tear drop – for emigrants to the new world, this was their
last sight of their native land. The whole coast echoes with history –
ancient sites, ruined castles, coastal forts, copper mines. Cork is
proudly ‘the rebel county’ and it was here, at Clonakilty, that Michael
Collins – ‘the Big Fella’ – lived and died.
West
Cork is both very Irish, and quite cosmopolitan – for many have
‘blown-in’ on the winds and stayed to make this beautiful place their
home. There’s a strong creative community here. Arts and crafts,
storytelling and traditional music thrive – as do scores of cultural
festivals.
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