Page 79 - Guerin Media | Cork Airport Holiday & Destination Guide 2015
P. 79
which is open to the public. Along the way, there archaeologists as the site of a well-preserved
is stunning scenery to be admired, with the monastic outpost of the early Christian period, and
possibility of spotting seals, kittiwakes, gannets it is now designated as a UNESCO World
and choughs, not to mention minke, fin and Heritage Site. Small Skellig, meanwhile, is famous
humpback whales. in the world of ornithology, as it is home to some
27,000 pairs of gannets, making it the world’s
Dursey Island, Co Cork second-largest colony of these sea birds. The
4monastic site on Skellig Michael is reached by
3. Dursey Island, Co Cork climbing more than 600 steps on a
1,000-year-old stairway. Stone beehive huts where
The most westerly of Cork’s inhabited islands, the monks lived and prayed cling to cliff edges
Dursey is separated from the mainland by a alongside oratories, a cemetery, stone crosses, holy
narrow sound known for its strong tides. It is wells and the Church of St Michael. These remains
accessed by Ireland’s only cable car, which runs demonstrate the spartan conditions in which the
about 250m above the sea. It can carry six people monks lived until they left the island in the 13th
at a time (locals get preference) on the 15 minute century. You can experience these islands
journey. Without any shops, pubs or restaurants, first-hand with a boat trip, or opt to stay on dry
this peaceful little island offers day-trippers an land and visit the Skellig Experience Centre
escape from the hustle and bustle of modern instead.
living. It is, however, home to three small villages
and forms part of the Beara Way Walking Trail. The Blaskets View, Co Kerry
Dursey is an excellent place for viewing wildlife,
as a variety of birds can be seen here, including 5. Blaskets View, Co Kerry
rare species from Siberia and America. Dolphins
and whales can also frequently be spotted in the Out on the very edge of Europe, off the Dingle
waters surrounding the island. On the island’s Peninsula, lie the mystical Blasket Islands, a small
most westerly hill sits the 200-year-old Signal archipelago renowned for its storytellers. In the
Tower, which boasts commanding views north to early 20th century, JM Synge became the first of
the Skellig Islands and south to Mizen Head. There many writers to arrive here in search of Ireland’s
are also ruins of the ancient church of Kilmichael, traditional culture, which remained strong in this
which is thought to have been founded by monks isolated and far-flung community. Here, people
from Skellig Michael. lived simply and frugally off the land and sea.
Their stories were transcribed and became the first
Bray Head, Co. Kerry written works to be published from the oral Irish
culture. After many years of hardship and
4. Bray Head, Co Kerry emigration, the last inhabitants left in 1953, and
today, you can wander among their ruined
Viewed from Bray Head, Skellig Michael and Small cottages on the main island, An Blascaod Mór
Skellig are two islands rising from the Atlantic (Great Blasket). From there you can also spy
some 13km southwest of Valentia Island in County dolphins and whales, and look out across the
Kerry. Skellig Michael is renowned among horizon toward America, as so many have done
before. Back on the mainland, a visit to the Blasket
Centre will provide insight into the islanders’ lives
and the rich literary heritage of the region.
79
is stunning scenery to be admired, with the monastic outpost of the early Christian period, and
possibility of spotting seals, kittiwakes, gannets it is now designated as a UNESCO World
and choughs, not to mention minke, fin and Heritage Site. Small Skellig, meanwhile, is famous
humpback whales. in the world of ornithology, as it is home to some
27,000 pairs of gannets, making it the world’s
Dursey Island, Co Cork second-largest colony of these sea birds. The
4monastic site on Skellig Michael is reached by
3. Dursey Island, Co Cork climbing more than 600 steps on a
1,000-year-old stairway. Stone beehive huts where
The most westerly of Cork’s inhabited islands, the monks lived and prayed cling to cliff edges
Dursey is separated from the mainland by a alongside oratories, a cemetery, stone crosses, holy
narrow sound known for its strong tides. It is wells and the Church of St Michael. These remains
accessed by Ireland’s only cable car, which runs demonstrate the spartan conditions in which the
about 250m above the sea. It can carry six people monks lived until they left the island in the 13th
at a time (locals get preference) on the 15 minute century. You can experience these islands
journey. Without any shops, pubs or restaurants, first-hand with a boat trip, or opt to stay on dry
this peaceful little island offers day-trippers an land and visit the Skellig Experience Centre
escape from the hustle and bustle of modern instead.
living. It is, however, home to three small villages
and forms part of the Beara Way Walking Trail. The Blaskets View, Co Kerry
Dursey is an excellent place for viewing wildlife,
as a variety of birds can be seen here, including 5. Blaskets View, Co Kerry
rare species from Siberia and America. Dolphins
and whales can also frequently be spotted in the Out on the very edge of Europe, off the Dingle
waters surrounding the island. On the island’s Peninsula, lie the mystical Blasket Islands, a small
most westerly hill sits the 200-year-old Signal archipelago renowned for its storytellers. In the
Tower, which boasts commanding views north to early 20th century, JM Synge became the first of
the Skellig Islands and south to Mizen Head. There many writers to arrive here in search of Ireland’s
are also ruins of the ancient church of Kilmichael, traditional culture, which remained strong in this
which is thought to have been founded by monks isolated and far-flung community. Here, people
from Skellig Michael. lived simply and frugally off the land and sea.
Their stories were transcribed and became the first
Bray Head, Co. Kerry written works to be published from the oral Irish
culture. After many years of hardship and
4. Bray Head, Co Kerry emigration, the last inhabitants left in 1953, and
today, you can wander among their ruined
Viewed from Bray Head, Skellig Michael and Small cottages on the main island, An Blascaod Mór
Skellig are two islands rising from the Atlantic (Great Blasket). From there you can also spy
some 13km southwest of Valentia Island in County dolphins and whales, and look out across the
Kerry. Skellig Michael is renowned among horizon toward America, as so many have done
before. Back on the mainland, a visit to the Blasket
Centre will provide insight into the islanders’ lives
and the rich literary heritage of the region.
79
