Carthy's Islands

Carthy's Islands lie in Roaringwater Bay on the rough south-western shore of County Cork. They are a group amongst the scattered isles in these waters known as Carbery's Hundred Isles.

The main island in the group is named Carthy’s Island, the largest though just 160 yards long and 100 yards wide: it climbs to just 46 feet above sea level. To the east, lies the sundered rock of Carthy’s Island South: long lofty and scoured of vegetation, and two tiny islets, Carthy’s Island North and Illaunnabineeny. Foal Rocks and Sharragh Rocks form dangerous skerries beside them. These islands form part of a broken line with the East Skean and West Skeam running to Cunnamore on the mainland. This is believed to have been a single peninsula in days long past.

There is no sign of human habitation on the islands, but the remains of an old sheep fence on Carthy's Island shows it was once grazed, perhaps until the Great Famine.

Location

• Location map: 51.4950655,-9.507092/zoom=11 51°29’42"N, 9°30’26"W
• Ordnance survey: V954280

References

• The islands of Ireland: Forgotten archipelago in Roaringwater Bay: Dan MacCarthy in The Irish Examiner, 9 April 2019
• Schalansky, Judith: 'Pocket Atlas of Remote Islands' (Penguin)
• Carthy's Islands: MountainViews.ie