Cape Clear Island


Clear Island or Cape Clear Island lies south-west of County Cork in Ireland. It is the southernmost inhabited part of Ireland and has a population of over 100 people. Officially it is a Gaeltacht, and most inhabitants speak Irish and English. Its nearest neighbour is Sherkin Island, east of the island. The island is divided into east and west halves by an isthmus called the Waist, with North Harbour to landward and South Harbour on the seaward side. Ferries sail from the North Harbour to Schull and Baltimore on the mainland. The South Harbour is a popular berth for yachts.

History

Archaeological sites on the island include a prehistoric cup-marked stone, a fulacht fiadh at Gort na Lobhar, a neolithic passage tomb at Cill Leire Forabhain, several standing stones around the island, a promontory fort at Dún an Óir, and a signal tower dating from the Napoleonic Wars. The island also has a number of early Christian sites, and is reputed to be the birthplace of Saint Ciarán of Saigir. The ruins of 12th century church are close to the main pier.
The island had a population of over 1,052 before the 19th century famine, and the population of Cape Clear is currently less than one-eighth that figure. The island's primary school was built in 1897, and visited by President of Ireland Mary McAleese in 1998.
Cape Clear was originally supplied with electricity produced by diesel generators on the island, but circa 1995 these were replaced with a submarine power cable.

Culture and language

The island is officially identified as a Gaeltacht area, and according to a 2007 report there were 127 people over the age of 3 living on the island, of whom 62 spoke Irish daily outside the education system.
Every first weekend of September, Cape hosts a storytelling festival. The Cape Clear Island International Storytelling Festival has been running annually since 1994.

Wildlife

, basking sharks and dolphins are found in the surrounding water, while sea pinks and honeysuckle are common plants on the land. Cape Clear is home to a lighthouse and a bird observatory. Cape Clear is popular with bird watchers and at times of the year is home to many species of migratory birds which are attracted to its climate, which is milder than the mainland. Birdlife includes black and common guillemots, cormorants and storm petrels.