Cape Clear Island is off the coast of West Cork. It is 8 miles  from Baltimore Village and is the nearest inhabited area to the famous Fastnet Rock Light House. It is a romantic and beautiful place, rugged but enormously welcoming, an ancient patchwork landscape surrounded by shimmering seas. It is three and a half miles long by one and a half miles wide and has a permanent population of 130 which increases significantly during the Summer months. It is a Gaeltacht, where Irish is still spoken.

Cape Clear Island has a long and exciting maritime history with many bronze age monuments scattered throughout its landscape. It enjoys a mild though often wet climate and is home to Ireland’s only permanently manned bird observatory.
 

Cape Clear Irish Colleges and services
Our Island has two Irish Language Summer Schools, a range of restaurants and pubs, and a range of accommodation including a youth hostel, yurt village, campsite and various guesthouses. There is also a choice of holiday homes.

 

Ornithology and whale/dolphin watching

Cape Clear is well known to seafarers of all kinds. Its two harbours attract visiting yachtsmen, the many wrecks around its coast bring divers and its rugged coastline and surrounding islands makes for fantastic sea kayaking. Sea and rock angling is popular and more recently eco cruises bring visitors to view the various whales, dolphins and other cetaceans, sharks, sunfish, seals and even leather turtles which are regularly seen in the surrounding seas. Late Summer brings extensive sea bird migrations, sometimes up to 30,000 birds passing per hour and the Autumn can mean rarities and migrants blow in from various parts of the globe.

Traditional Music and lively social scene

Cape Clear Island has a lively social and traditional music scene, particularly during the Summer months when the local musicians are joined by visitors, a place where jazz and jam meets trad.

Cape Clear Island welcomes all visitors from those who come for a few hours to those who stay a lifetime. Cailín Óir Ferry, the funkiest ferry in West Cork can bring you to our beautiful island.

Please use our webpage to discover more about Cape Clear Island and about the many activities and attractions available.

 

 

Tours and Groups

We offer a range of customized tours suitable for all kinds of groups providing services from guides to full board, accommodation and activities for school and youth groups.

Cailín Óir Cape Clear Ferry & Cruise Service

Oileán Chléire
An Sciobairín
Co Chorcaí.

Tel 028-39159/41923 or 086-3465110

Email: info@cailinoir.com

For timetable and online ticket sales please click here