West Cork

West Cork Ireland

West Cork is known as Ireland's Gold Coast, with many beaches and fishing villages along its long coastline, which stretches from Cork Harbour to the Kerry side of the Beara Penninsula.

West Cork's location, in the path of the Gulf Stream, ensures a mild climate all year round. This provides the right conditions for a diverse variety of flora & fauna. Because of this, West Cork is a favourite destination to wildlife enthusiasts of all kinds -- from birdwatchers to underwater photographers.

The lovely scenery and the comforts of Irish rural life found across West Cork, have attracted a diverse selection of musicians and artists from around the world, who have created a vast community of artisans, who blend well with the local communities. You can therefore find a selection of galleries and shops and find some great finds during your stay in West Cork. The pubs often have local traditional musicians playing on weekends evenings - and often nightly during the summer.

West Cork has an interesting historical and archaeological heritage, with many surviving monuments and sites to be visited. Some heritage sites in West Cork to visit are castles, ring forts, standing stones, holy wells and mass rocks.

All of the following West Cork towns and villages are less than thirty minutes from Union Hall by car:

Baltimore West Cork

Baltimore, a small but lively port and popular sailing centre, faces onto Roaringwater Bay and Carbery's Hundred Isles. Regular ferries operate from here to Cape Clear and Sherkin Islands. There are many restaurants and pubs here.

Castletownshend West Cork

The attractive village of Castletownshend is situated on the coast. The village developed around the castle, which was built in the mid 1600s by the Townshends and is the seat of the family. The steeply inclined main street runs down to the castle, the quayside and the harbour. One of West Cork's best known restaurants & pubs, Mary Ann's, is located here and is home to a thriving art gallery, featuring some of Ireland's best up & coming and established artists.

Clonakilty West Cork

Clonakilty, formerly a busy market town, has returned to its roots with twice weekly farmers market and a variety of locally owned shops, and two large supermarket chains. Even with these new development Clonakilty always scores high in the nation's "Tidy Towns" and the international "Nations in Bloom" competitions, and is known for its colorful traditional shops fronts and the elegant Georgian Emmet Square. There are many restaurants, pubs and a three screen cinema (for rainy day entertainment). For history buffs, Michael Collins was born just outside the town and went to school here. Michael Collins Homeplace is a popular visitor's centre, as is the town's Model Railway Village, with something for children and adults, alike.

Glandore West Cork

Glandore, just over the harbour via bridge, is one of the prettiest villages in Ireland. Glandore is home to a few famous residents, Tony O'Reilly to Carole Voderman to name two. The restuarants and pubs located overlooking the harbour are the perfect location for an afternoon lunch or evening out. Nearby is the famous Drombeg Stone Circle which has been dated to 150 BC following archaeological excavation in the late 1950’s.

Skibbereen West Cork

Skibbereen is the capital of West Cork, centre for all the agricultural, industrial and tourist activities of a wide region. As the ‘hub’ of West Cork, With 26 pubs in the town and award winning restaurants scattered all around, there is also plenty to do in the evening. The Skibereen Heritage Centre has a fascinating exhibition on The Great Famine, which hit the area very badly in the 1840's.

Read more:
Union Hall
Holidays in Cork
Cork Ireland - Getting Here
West Cork & Travel Links

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