Gaeltacht Travel in Ireland

Cork is the largest county in Ireland, and is known as the Rebel County, one of the kind coming from Cork was Mícheál Seán Ó Coileáin, better known as Michael Collins, Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance of the Irish Republic, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, who was shot and killed in August 1922. The jagged Cork coastline is known for its magnificent scenery – especially in the southwest.

The attractions are the Blarney Stone and town Cóbh (formerly Queenstown), the port where many Irish emigrants boarded for their journey to the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or South Africa in search of a better life and also the last stop of the Titanic, before departing on its doomed journey.

For staying in Cork’s Gaeltacht, check out our Cork Gaeltacht Accommodation.

West Cork

In West Cork, a remote coastal part of the county, tourists enjoy the appeal of the small villages and islands including Sherkin Island, Oileán Chléire (Cape Clear Island) and Dursey Island. Mizen Head, the “southwesternmost point in Ireland” is also in West Cork, as well as Sheep’s Head.

West Cork is famous for its wild, rugged beauty and is suitable for walkers, climbers and artists. Further west there is Mizen Head, famous for its breathtaking rock formations, sheer cliffs and charming villages.

Cork’s Gaeltacht

The Gaeltacht of county Cork consists of four native Irish speaking communities in Baile Mhúirne (Ballyvourney), Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (Ballingeary), Cúil Aodha (Coolea) and Oileán Chléire (Clear Island). The atmosphere is full of the traditions of the Gaeltacht way of life and participating in traditional entertainment including Irish music, story-telling, song and dance are common activities for the tourists.

Oileán Chléire (Clear Island) is Ireland’s southernmost inhabited Gaeltacht island. Most of the 150 inhabitants speak Irish and English. Three miles west of the island stands the solitary Fastnet Rock. To the northwest stretches the Mizen Head, the mainland’s southerly point. Oileán Chléire is charming with its wild romantic scenery, colourful harbours, cliffs, bogs, lake and the stone walls that crisscross the landscape. Megalithic standing stones and a 5000 year-old passage grave, a 12th century church ruin, a 14th century O’Driscoll castle, cannonaded in the early 1600′s, suggest times past. Birdwatchers will find Oileán Chléire’s remote location, combined with its proximity to the continental shelf, as a great opportunity for bird watching in Ireland. In the blue ocean waters you can spot whales, leatherback turtles, sun fish and sharks every year, dolphins are even less shy. Set away from the busy life of the mainland Oileán Chléire offers relaxation, peace and lots of natural attractions. It is an excellent setting for Oileán Chléire two Irish Summer Colleges.

Baile Mhúirne is Ireland’s “best kept secret”. The town offers a variety of art, pottery and other hand crafts studios, among them leather, glass, furniture and candle crafts. You can try your luck in a game of Ból (Road Bowling), which is a sport practiced only in County Cork and Armagh. Scór are held at various locations most weekends and according to the locals, all are welcome.

Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh means “the ford at the mouth of the wooded valley through which flows a river”. Gougane Barra is one of the attractions nearby. It’s a beautiful mountain valley that was home to St. Finbarr in the 7th Century, who founded Cork City (Corcaigh). Another valley is Céim An Fhia (The Leap Of The Deer) – The Pass of Keimaneigh. This mountain pass on the road to Bantry was immortalised by local poet Máire Bhuí Ní Laoire in her poem Cath Céim An Fhia, an account of a battle in 1822 between Local Whiteboys and Yeomen supported by British soldiers.

Cork City

Corcaigh (Cork) is Ireland’s second-largest city, and sits on an island between two channels of the river Lee (An Laoi). It’s known as a laid-back, relaxed place, where you can enjoy great music, theatre and visual arts. Corcaigh would probably compete with Gaillimh for the title of the cultural capital of the country. Corcaigh is the “Venice of Ireland”, for some of the main streets are built over channels where ships sailed through a century ago. Check out a photo tour of Cork city on FoundMark.com. The Corkonians are also regarded as the most talkative of all the Irish, so a visit to a local pub might be a good idea.

Tags: regions