Sherkin Island

Sherkin Island Irish: Inis Arcáin
Carbery's Hundred Isles (County Cork)
The former school on Sherkin Island
Location
Location:	51°28’18"N, 9°25’3"W
Grid reference:	W016252
Area:	2 square miles
Highest point:	621 feet
Data
Population:	111  (2016)

Sherkin Island, historically called Inisherkin lies off the south-west coastline of County Cork, alongside other islands of Roaringwater Bay. It had a population of 111 people at the time of the 2016 Census,

The island measures 3 miles long by a mile and a half in width. It has two pubs, a hotel, bed and breakfast, community centre, coffee shop, and a Roman Catholic church.

Sherkin is one of the most southerly points of Ireland, after the Fastnet Rock, Cape Clear and Brow Head. It is said that when the frost covers the lawns of Baltimore just across the bay, the grass remains unfrosted on the island.

People

Sherkin once had a population of around 1,000, which started to decline during the Great 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.

The island has a local development officer, and a community-based organisation called "Sherkin Island Development Society"

Transport

Sherkin is served year-round by a ferry service operating from the port of Baltimore.

The roads on Sherkin are narrow. 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 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 the islanders. It is stands 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 B.C. – 400 A.D.
• Franciscan friary – Mediæval – 1460 A.D.
• O'Driscoll Castle – Mediæval – post 1200 A.D.

Pictures

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Sherkin Island)

Tráigh Eoghain mhóir, or Cow Strand	Sherkin Friary	View from the highest point of Sherkin Island
An Cúinne Harbour, Sherkin Island	Silver Strand

Events

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.

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.