Sherkin Island, historically called Inisherkin (), lies southwest of
County Cork
County Cork ( ga, Contae Chorcaí) is the largest and the southernmost county of Ireland, named after the city of Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. Its largest market towns a ...
in Ireland alongside other islands of Roaringwater Bay. It had a population of 111 people at the time of the 2016 Census,
and measures long by wide. The island has two pubs, a hotel, a bed and breakfast, a community centre, a coffee shop, and a
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
* Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...
church.
Climate
Sherkin is one of the most southerly points of Ireland after the
Fastnet Rock
Fastnet Lighthouse is a 54m high lighthouse situated on the remote Fastnet Rock in the Atlantic Ocean. It is the most southerly point of Ireland and lies southwest of Cape Clear Island and from County Cork on the Irish mainland. The current l ...
, Cape Clear, and
Brow Head
Brow Head ( ga, Ceann Bró) is the most southerly point of mainland Ireland. It is in the rural townland of Mallavogue near Crookhaven in County Cork, Ireland. It is 3.8 km east of Mizen Head at latitude 51.43ºN.
History
Ptolemy's ''Geo ...
. It is said that when the frost covers the lawns of
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
just across the bay, the grass remains unfrosted on the island.
Population
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 between the summer and the winter months, with increases in summer as people return to holiday houses and tourists arrive.
The population of Sherkin include artists, writers, craft workers, musicians, photographers, beekeepers, cattle farmers, mussel and oyster farmers, oceanologists, fishermen, sailors, teachers, and doctors.
Transport
Sherkin is served year-round by a ferry service operating from the port of Baltimore.
The roads on Sherkin are narrow and maintained by
Cork County Council
Cork County Council ( ga, Comhairle Contae Chorcaí) is the authority responsible for local government in County Cork, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for housing and ...
. Most of the cars on the island are old and unsuitable for use on the mainland. Given the size of the island, many residents also walk or cycle. The island also has a bus service which primarily transports people to and from the ferry.
History
There are a number of archaeological remains on Sherkin. A
franciscan
, image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg
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, caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans
, abbreviation = OFM
, predecessor =
, ...
friary, known locally as the Abbey, stands above Abbey strand, where the pier is. The seat of the O'Driscoll Clan was Dún na Long. 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 from 1835. The lighthouse marks the southern entrance to Baltimore Harbour, along with the Baltimore Beacon. On the south-western side of the island there is a functioning Roman Catholic church. The main historic sites include:
*
Promontory fort – Celtic Iron Age – 600 BC – 400 AD
*
Franciscan
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, image_size = 200px
, caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans
, abbreviation = OFM
, predecessor =
, ...
friary – Medieval – 1460 AD
* O'Driscoll Castle – Medieval – post 1200 AD
Tourism
The ferry to Sherkin sails from
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
on the mainland. The island is a tourist destination and it typically takes between 10 and 15 minutes to get to Sherkin from Baltimore. The journey to the neighbouring
Gaeltacht
( , , ) are the districts of Ireland, individually or collectively, where the Irish government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant vernacular, or language of the home.
The ''Gaeltacht'' districts were first officially reco ...
island
Cape Clear takes on average approximately 40 minutes. A number of Sherkin's residents are active in the fields of art, including
craft
A craft or trade is a pastime or an occupation that requires particular skills and knowledge of skilled work. In a historical sense, particularly the Middle Ages and earlier, the term is usually applied to people occupied in small scale pro ...
s, painting and writing. The busiest season starts with school summer holidays when families visit the island.
Visitors can book a sea safari trip around the islands. Once on Sherkin pier, people can visit the Franciscan friary, if it is open. Known locally as "the Abbey", it has a photo exhibition inside and some displays outside.
Sherkin also has camp facilities. Because the island has no local refuse disposal facilities, campers and picnickers are encouraged to bring minimum packaging and take any litter back to the mainland or recycle cans and bottles on Sherkin Pier. Silver Strand is popular for barbecues.
Festivals
The busiest day of the year coincides with the Sherkin Regatta festival, a
rowing regatta usually held in late July or early August. On this day the island is visited by
sea rowers and their supporters, with children's activities, music and food stalls. Music festivals are also occasionally held.
Development and infrastructure
The island has a local development officer, and a community-based organisation called "Sherkin Island Development Society" (SIDS). Sherkin Island is supplied with mains power from the mainland through a
submarine power cable. Another submarine cable from Sherkin supplies power to
Cape Clear island.
Research
Sherkin Island Marine Station is a privately run operation located on the north-west of the island.
Founded in 1975, it is mainly involved in gathering baseline marine data,
and also produces a number of reports, books and the quarterly 'Sherkin Comment' journal.
See also
*
List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Cork)
*
Carbery's Hundred Isles
References
{{Authority control
Islands of County Cork
Tourist attractions in County Cork
Gaeltacht places in County Cork
Ruins in the Republic of Ireland