Clear Island
Encyclopedia
Clear Island or Cape Clear Island (officially known by its Irish
name: Cléire, and sometimes also called Oileán Chléire) 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
(Irish
speaking area) and most inhabitants speak Irish and English. Its nearest neighbour is Sherkin Island
, 2 km east of the island. The island is divided into east and west halves by an isthmus
. Ferries sail from the North Harbour to Schull
and Baltimore
on the mainland. The South Harbour is a popular berth for yacht
s.
, for the Dún an Óir fort, and for its birdlife, including Black
and Common Guillemot
s, Cormorant
s and storm petrels. The island had a population of over 1,052 before the Famine, and the population of Cape Clear is currently less than 1 eighth that figure. The island has a primary school which was built in 1897. In 1998 Irish President
Mary McAleese
visited it. Every first weekend of September, Cape hosts the Cape Clear Island International Storytelling
Festival, which has been running annually since 1994. The festival features professional international storytellers from all over the world.
s and dolphin
s 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 a prime bird watching destination and in certain times of the year is home to hundreds of species of migratory birds which are attracted to its climate, which is much milder than mainland Ireland's.
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
name: Cléire, and sometimes also called Oileán Chléire) lies south west of County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is the southernmost inhabited part of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and has a population of over 100 people. Officially it is a Gaeltacht
Gaeltacht
is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
(Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
speaking area) and most inhabitants speak Irish and English. Its nearest neighbour is Sherkin Island
Sherkin Island
Sherkin Island, historically called Inisherkin , 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, measures 3 miles long by 1.5 miles wide...
, 2 km east of the island. The island is divided into east and west halves by an isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
. Ferries sail from the North Harbour to Schull
Schull
Schull or Skull is a town in County Cork, Ireland. The name derives from a medieval monastic school of which no trace remains. Located on the southwest coast, in West Cork, the village is situated in a scenic and remote location, dominated by Mount Gabriel . It has a sheltered harbour, used for...
and Baltimore
Baltimore, County Cork
Baltimore is located in western County Cork, Ireland. Baltimore is the principal village of the parish of Rath and the Islands, the southernmost parish in Ireland...
on the mainland. The South Harbour is a popular berth for yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
s.
History
The island is known as the birthplace of Saint CiaránCiarán
Ciarán , Ciaran in Scottish Gaelic, Ceiran, Kieran, Keeran, Kyran, Kiaran, Keiran, Kieren, Kieron, Keiron or Kiernan , is a personal name meaning "small dark one". Ciarán comes from the Irish word "Ciar" which means black or dark. Ciar can be linked back to Ciar, son of Fergus, King of Ulster...
, for the Dún an Óir fort, and for its birdlife, including Black
Black Guillemot
The Black Guillemot or Tystie is a medium-sized alcid.Adult birds have black bodies with a white wing patch, a thin dark bill, and red legs and feet. They show white wing linings in flight. In winter, the upperparts are pale grey and the underparts are white. The wings remain black with the large...
and Common Guillemot
Common Guillemot
The Common Murre or Common Guillemot is a large auk. It is also known as the Thin-billed Murre in North America. It has a circumpolar distribution, occurring in low-Arctic and boreal waters in the North-Atlantic and North Pacific...
s, Cormorant
Great Cormorant
The Great Cormorant , known as the Great Black Cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the Black Cormorant in Australia and the Black Shag further south in New Zealand, is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds...
s and storm petrels. The island had a population of over 1,052 before the Famine, and the population of Cape Clear is currently less than 1 eighth that figure. The island has a primary school which was built in 1897. In 1998 Irish President
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
visited it. Every first weekend of September, Cape hosts the Cape Clear Island International Storytelling
Storytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
Festival, which has been running annually since 1994. The festival features professional international storytellers from all over the world.
Wildlife
Seals, basking sharkBasking shark
The basking shark is the second largest living fish, after the whale shark. It is a cosmopolitan migratory species, found in all the world's temperate oceans. It is a slow moving and generally harmless filter feeder and has anatomical adaptations to filter feeding, such as a greatly enlarged...
s and dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s are found in the surrounding water, while sea pinks and honeysuckle
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckles are arching shrubs or twining vines in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere. There are about 180 species of honeysuckle, 100 of which occur in China; Europe, India and North America have only about 20 native species each...
are common plants on the land.
Cape Clear is home to a lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
and a bird observatory
Bird observatory
A bird observatory is a centre for the study of bird migration and bird populations. They are usually focused on local birds, but may also include interest in far flung areas. Most bird observatories are small operations with a limited staff, many volunteers and a not-for-profit educational status...
. Cape Clear is a prime bird watching destination and in certain times of the year is home to hundreds of species of migratory birds which are attracted to its climate, which is much milder than mainland Ireland's.
Archaeology of Cape Clear
- Boulder Burial, Gort na Lobhar (Gortnalour)
- Burial Ground, Baile Iarthach (Ballyieragh), Cill Leire Forabhain (Comillane); also Children's Burial Ground, Lios O Moine (Lissamona)
- Celtic Art Stone with later cross inscription Celtic Iron Age 600 B.C.–400 A.D., Crathach Thiar (Croha West)
- Church, Baile Iarthach (Ballyieragh) in ruins 1693
- Cross Slab, Lios O Moine (Lissamona), Baile Iarthach (Ballyieragh)
- Cup Mark Stone, Cill Leire Forabhain (Comillane) now in Cape Clear Museum
- Fulach Fiadh (Cooking Pit), Gort na Lobhar (Gortnalour), Cnocan na mBairneach (Knockannamurnagh)
- Holy Well, Cill Leire Forabhain (Comillane), Baile Iarthach (Ballyieragh) visited on St. Kieran's day 5 March
- Medieval post 1200 A.D. O'Driscoll Castle
- Passage Tomb 4000–2200 B.C., Cill Leire Forabhain (Comilane) found 1880
- Promontory fortPromontory fortA promontory fort is a defensive structure located above a steep cliff, often only connected to the mainland by a small neck of land, thus utilizing the topography to reduce the ramparts needed. Although their dating is problematic, most seem to date to the Iron Age...
Celtic Iron Age 600 B.C.–400 A.D. at Baile Iarthach (Ballyieragh), Cnocan na mBairneach (Knockannamurnagh) - Ringfort, Lios O Moine (Lissamona)
- Signal Tower, Gleann Iarthach (Glen West) burned early 19th century
- Stone Pair, Cill Leire Forabhain (Comillane), Neolithic 4000–2200 B.C.
- Tower House and Bawn, Baile Iarthach (Ballyieragh) O'Driscoll
Townlands
The townlands of the island include:- Baile Iarthach Theas
- Baile Iarthach Thuaidh
- Cnocán an Choimthigh
- Gleann Iarthach
- Gleann Meánach
- Gleann Oirtheach
- Coinnlín
- Crathach Thiar
- Crathach Thoir
- Cill Leice Fórabhain
- Lios O Móine
- Cnocán na mBairneach
- Gort na Lobhar
- An tArdghort
- Ceathrúna
- Comalán