Clare Island
Nestled in the heart of Clew Bay, Clare Island is a captivating blend of history, archaeology, and natural beauty. At the island’s core stands the ruins of Clare Island Cistercian Abbey, a formidable medieval stronghold dating back to the 15th century. It thought the original building dates from the early 13th century and is now under the care of the Office of Public Works. This medieval church is significant for the extent of its surviving medieval wall paintings.
Officially known as ‘St. Bridget’s Abbey’ it is more correctly termed a ‘Cell’. The building contains tombs of the local ruling family, the O’Malleys- including that of the legendary Grace O’Malley or Grainne Mhaol – the pirate queen of Connaught. The abbey is a testament to Ireland’s monastic heritage and monastic craftsmanship.
Access is available via ferries from Roonagh Pier, with facilities to explore the site unguided, though caretakers are on hand during the summer months. The OPW’s ongoing conservation efforts ensure the preservation of this rich heritage for future generations.
Garinish Island (Illnacullin)
Garinish Island (Illnacullin), sitting in the picturesque Glengarriff Harbour within Bantry Bay, is home to beautiful gardens designed by Harold Peto on behalf of the owners, Annan and Violet Bryce. The Bryces, had holidayed in Glengarriff for a number of years prior to purchasing the Island in 1910 from the British War Office.
After four years with a workforce of up to 100 people, the Bryces’ dream of building a beautiful garden was realised. Due to changes in the Bryce family financial situation, the planned mansion was not built. The very mild climate, due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, was a factor in choosing Garinish Island to home a great variety of plants from around the world.
Having moved permanently to the Island on the death of her husband Annan in 1923, Violet opened the gardens to the public in 1925. Roland Bryce, eldest son of Violet and Annan, moved to Garinish in 1932 to assist his mother in the care of the gardens. Roland took ownership of the Island on the death of his mother in 1939 and the Island has been in the care of the Office of Public Works since Roland’s passing in 1953. Murdo Mackenzie, Head Gardener on Garinish Island from 1928 until 1971, contributed hugely to the gardens. Under the current stewardship of Glyn Sherratt and his team, the gardens are maintained and continually evolving, thus ensuring the Bryce Legacy continues.
We welcome over 60,000 visitors annually to Garinish Island, with a recommended visit time of at least one hour for the garden. In 2015, a refurbishment of the former home of Bryce family members was undertaken and is now open for guided tours.
Garinish Island is home to a pair of sea eagles and many visitors are delighted to catch a glance of these wonderful birds whilst visiting the gardens.
Sherkin Franciscan Friary
Perched on Sherkin Island, County Cork, the Sherkin Friary is a captivating relic of Ireland’s rich monastic heritage. Overlooking a rocky strand, the ruins evoke a sense of history and tranquillity, inviting visitors to reflect on Ireland’s monastic traditions. Founded in 1460 by Chieftain Fineen O’Driscoll, this Franciscan friary—also known as ‘The Abbey’—stands as a testament to Ireland’s spiritual and historical legacy. Its resilience was tested in 1537 when it was attacked and burned in a reprisal against the O’Driscoll clan. Despite this, it continued to operate until 1650, when Cromwellian forces confiscated the site.
It later came into the hands of the local Beecher family before being handed over to the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 1895. Accessible by boat visitors are advised to exercise caution during their visit, as the site is unguided.
A visit to Sherkin Friary is a journey into Ireland’s storied past—a must-see for those exploring Cork’s rich heritage. Each of these islands offers a distinctive glimpse into Ireland’s natural beauty, history, and culture. Whether you’re wandering through the exotic gardens of Garinish, exploring the wild landscapes of the Blaskets, immersing yourself in Irish tradition or uncovering medieval history on Clare Island — they all promise memorable summer adventures.
Oileáin Árainn
Ón chéad lá ar thosaigh daoine ag cuir fúthú sna hOileáin Árainn, bhí daoine ag teacht go Árainn, Inis Méain agus Inis Oírr ar cuairt. Do mhairnéalaigh na Cré-Umhaoise, ba stop áisiúil é ar a n-aistir aníos an chósta thiar, mar aon le deis maith roinnt copair a thrádáil le haghaidh fionnadh agus iasc trimithe. Sa ré Chríostaí, le himeachta ama, ba lár-ionad léinn a bhí sna hoileáin, agus tháinig ábhair naoimh sna sluaite ag Mainistir Naomh Éanna, chun teagasc a dhéanamh leis an fear naofa. Níos déanaí, leann oilithrigh lorg na naomh, iad ag súil go dtuillfidís am saor ó phurgóid agus máthúnas dá bpeacaí. Do Rómánsaithe an 19ú aois, ba ídéal ar Éire ‘Ghaelach’ a bhí in Árainn, áit nár fhág an saol nua-aimsirthe a lorg, más fíor.
Tá Árainn go mór faoi thioncar a dúnta móra cloiche. Tá Dún Aonghasa and Dúchathair suite go guagach go hard ar ailtreacha theas an oileáin, agus tá Dún Eoghnachta agus Dún Eochla lonnaithe ar an talamh ard i lár an oileáin. Bhí cónaí ar uasaicme an oileáin sna dúnta le linn ré na luath-mheánaoise 800AD – 1100AD, ach i gcás Dún Aonghasa ar a laghad, bhí daoine ag cuir fúthu ann siar sa Chré-umhaois, 1100BC. Tá ballaí arda na dúin dochreitde tiubh, agus is léiriú soiléir iad ar an buíon oibre suntasach a bhí faoi cheannas muintir an dúin.
Ar cósta thuaidh Árainn, tá na séipéil agus mainistreacha suaimhneacha suite. Lá den saol, bhí Cill Éinne beo le scolairí, cléirigh agus oilithrigh, agus bhí an oiread rath ar an mhainistir go raibh sé d’achmhainn acu cloigtheach ard a thógáil san 11ú aois. Sa lá atá inniu ann breathnaíonn Teampall Bheannáin, an séipéil is lú in Éireann más fíor é, amach ar chuan Cill Éinne, agus in aice láimhe tá Teaghlach Éinne leath-cheilte faoi gaineamh. Ar taobh thiar an oileán, is é an suíomh ar a dtugtar na Seacht dTeampaill sa lá atá inniu ann is tábhachtaí. Tá grúpa suntasach d’fhoirgnimh agus séipéil meánaoiseacha le fáil ann, chomh maith le iarsmaí thrí ardchros mionsnoite.
D’fhág an 17ú céad a lorg ar Árainn chomh maith. Nuair a ghéill Gailleamh do forsaí Chromaill in 1650, cuireadh forsa saighdiúirí ar an oileán, agus tógadh Caisleán Aircín. Níor mhair go dtí an lá atá inniu ann ach balla amháin den caisleán ach is meabhrú sonrach dúinn é ar suímh stráitéiseach an oileán feadh béal Chuan na Gaillimhe.
Cloughoughter Castle
Perched on a man-made island in Lough Oughter, Co. Cavan, Cloughoughter Castle—also known as the Castle of Crannog O’Reilly—is a striking reminder of Ireland’s medieval heritage. Built in the 13th or early 14th century by the O’Reilly family, the castle’s strategic location on a crannog made it a formidable stronghold amidst the lakes and waterways of the region. Accessible only by boat, the castle’s remote setting offers visitors a sense of stepping back in time. When water levels are low, remnants of a causeway may be visible, hinting at the once-sophisticated means of access. Historical records recount numerous events at Cloughoughter, from sieges to political upheavals. Notably, during the Irish Rebellion of 1641-1642, the renowned scholar and bishop William Bedell was imprisoned here.
Today, Cloughoughter remains a National Monument under the guardianship of the Office of Public Works (OPW). Recent restoration efforts, including the removal of overgrown ivy and old structures, have enhanced visibility of its historic fabric. Visitors should note that the site is unguided, requiring care and caution during exploration. As a powerful symbol of Ireland’s medieval past, Cloughoughter Castle continues to inspire those seeking to connect with Ireland’s rich heritage.
An Blascaod Mór
Is beag duine in Éirinn nách bhfuil eolas éigin acu faoi’n mBlascaod Mór, príomh-oileán na mBlascaodaí, ar chósta thiar Chorca Dhuibhne i gCiarraí. Mhair pobal uathúil ar an oileán go dtí 1953 agus tháining raidhse saothair litríochta as, ó na 1920idí amach – An tOileánach le Toms Ó Criomhhtain, Fiche Bliain ag Fás le Muiris o Súilleabháin agus Peig le Peig Sayers mar cheannródaithe orthu. Lean mórán leabhair eile iad, a fhágann go bhfuil cúntas cuimsitheach ar conas a mhair an pobal sin, ar chuma nách bhfuil le fáil in aon áit dá leithéid, ní amháin in Éirinn ach ar domhan. Deintear ceiliúradh an an oidhreacht shaibhir sin in Ionad an Bhlascaoid ar an míntír i nDún Chaoin.
Tá mórán taighde agus saothair foilsithe ag scoláirí iomráiteacha faoi ghnéithe do chultúr, béaloideas agus stair na mBlascaodaí fiú go dtí an lá inniu, as Gaeilge agus i dteangacha eile. Léiríonn siad saibhreas agus tábhacht na hoidhreachta atá fágtha ag pobal an Bhlascaoid Mhóir.
Is fiú go mór turas a thabhait at an t-oileán féin. Tá áilleacht, uaisleacht agus uaigneas thar na bearta ag baint leis. Tá teacht ar an oileán ar sheirbhísí farantóireachta príobháideacha a ritheann ó Dhún Chaoin, ó Cheann Trá agus ó Dhaingean Uí Chúis idir an Aibreán agus Meán Fómhair – ag brath ar aimsir, gan amhras. Bíonn turasanna treóraithe á gcur ar fáil go laethúil ann ag treóraithe ó Ionad an Bhlascaoid, a thugann léargas ar bhaile an oileáin, scéalta na ndaoine agus na tithe inar mhair siad, sar a tréigeadh an áit i 1953.
Taobh amuigh den oidhreacht agus stair, is áit fíor-álainn an Blascaod Mór ina bhfuil radharcanna iontacha mórthimpeall. Tá siúlóidí den scoth ann a thugann éachtaint ar an tírdhreac agus muirdhreac ar gach taobh. Tá an áit mar chuid de Pháirc Náisiúnta na Mara a ainmníodh i 2024 agus tá tóir ar an mBlascaod Mór mar láthair chun na rónta glas agus éanlaithe mara atá flúirseach ann a fheiscint.
Tá mórán oibre idir lámha faoi láthair le go ndéanfaí caomhnú fad-téarmach ar an mBlascaod Mór agus chun áiseanna túirlingte a fheabhsú ionas an láthair fíor-thábhachtach seo a bheith cosanta agus ar fáil do chuairteoirí in sna blianta agus glúnta atá rómhainn. Is é is lú atá tuillte mar omós ag an bpobal eisceachtúil a mhair ann, do chuimhne na n-údair iomráiteacha agus saibhreas oidhteachta agus nádúrtha an Bhlascaoid. Faoi mar a dúirt an Criomhthanach, “mar ná beidh a leithéidí arís ann”.
