Rabbit Island, County Cork
| Rabbit Island Irish: Oileán Bhríde | |
| Location | |
| Location: | 51°31’49"N, 9°7’18"W |
| Grid reference: | W222314 |
| Area: | 20 acres |
| Highest point: | 82 feet |
| Data | |
| Population: | 0 |
Rabbit Island lies off the coast of County Cork, in the west of the county near the mouth of Glandore Harbour. It is uninhabited today, but that was not always the case. Today it is give n over to abundant birdlife and its wild horses graze among the ruins of two houses.
The island is also a townland in the Barony of West Carbery. As a part of the barony, it is one of the islands known as Carbery's Hundred Isles (though far from those in Roaringwater Bay).
The island is divided, with Rabbit Island East, a rugged outcrop, and the delightfully named Stack of Beans its near neighbour.
A legend is associated with the island, that in the fifth century St Brigid visited the Uí Laogh tribe on the island, who renamed it Oileáin Brighide after her. There was also a well named after Brigid.
Records show that a Captain Samuel Jervois lived here in the 18th century, and his daughter and son in law (Captain John O’Hea) had a summer house on the island. The island was later leased by a Donal Nagle and his wife Mary.
References
- 'Islands of Ireland: Legendary and historical Rabbit Island': Dan MacCarthy in The Irish Examiner, 22 April 2019
| Carbery's Hundred Isles in County Cork |
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Cape Clear Island • Sherkin Island • Long Island • Castle Island • Carthy's Islands • Horse Island • West Skeam Island • East Skeam Island • Heir Island • Calves Island (West, Middle, East) • Spanish Island • Ringarogy Island • Goat Island (Beg/Mór) • Rabbit Island |