Bluebell day Pond with Gazebo

The Gardens are part of the West Cork Garden Trail and have also been included in the beautiful new book “100 Best Gardens in Ireland” (published by Liberties Press, 2011). You can visit the gardens daily all year round between 10am and 6pm. We also have a beautiful new map of the estate which we can provide to visitors. This not only gives a guided tour and history of the garden rejuvenation over the past 15 years but also allows visitors to explore and experience the woodland walks, carriage drives, ponds and bird hides.

Garden in Bloom

Inish Beg House & Sunken Garden

Woodland Pond

7-9pm……….Music and storytelling at The Glebe. With songs and tales of the sea and times past.

Saturday 30^th June

11.00……….Children’s pirate treasure hunt at Glebe Gardens

12.00……….24 hour pirate ‘swimathon’ in Baltimore swimming pool (proceeds in aid of the pool)

2.30……….Pirate conference in Dún na Séad castle.

Speakers Des Ekin, Editor of the Sunday World, and author of The Stolen Village will discuss the Sack of Baltimore and the trade of Christian captives to the slave markets of Algiers, and Connie Kelleher, Underwater Archaeologist with the Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s Underwater Archaeology unit will discuss piracy off the south coast in the early seventeenth century. (Tel.0872903236)

Afternoon (by arrangement)……….Snorkel with your personal guide and visit pirates’ caves and inlets around Baltimore, that in the 17^th century would have been used to hide boats and bounty. (Subject to weather and minimum numbers so prebooking is necessary). (Tel. 028 20511)

Afternoon (by arrangement)……….Kyaking excursions into coastal pirate caves and inlets to search for hidden booty. (Tel. 028 21058)

Afternoon……….Entertainment at the Square with living history re-enactment of the ‘Sack of Baltimore’. Be transported back to the Baltimore of 1631 and experience the pirate raid. Dress up in pirate costume or be taken captive and put in chains. Listen to pirate sea shanties, while exotic dancers in colourful costume transport you to the slave markets of north Africa.

Sunday 1^st July

2.30 and 4.30……….Pirate boat tours of Baltimore harbour. These tours will have live commentary and will explore the course taken by the Algerian pirates when they raided Baltimore in 1631, taking 107 inhabitants off to a life of slavery in north Africa.

Afternoon……….Throughout the afternoon there will be entertainment at the Square again with living history re-enactment. Delve into the world of piracy and slavery of seventeenth century Baltimore.

2.30……….Children’s best dressed pirate competition with parade from the Square.

3.00 – 4.30……….Afternoon of children’s games and entertainment in the pirate playground.

5.00……….Prizegiving of children’s pirate fancy dress competition and primary schools’ drawing and short story competition.

Friday 4 May 2012

6pm                             Tourist Office Opens for Registrations & Information

6.30 pm                       A few words of welcome outside the Tourist Office.

7.00 pm                       A short historical walk around North Harbour cost €5

8.00 pm                       Recommended evening meal in upstairs in Club Cléire, to be joined by local musicians. Please book in Siopa Beag, cost €15.

10.00 pm                     Traditional informal session in Club with local musicians – musician and singers are invited to contribute.

Saturday 5 May 2012

9.30 – 10.30 am          Tourist Office open for registrations and information

10am – 12.00 noon      Garden Walk with Sally Davies – Explore the ring and call into some local gardens on the way, cost €5

12 noon – 1 pm           Tourist Office open

12.30 – 4.00 pm          Explore some of the historical, archaeological and other sites of Cape Clear with Author and Poet Chuck Kruger visiting the former fish  farm, now vegetable production in polytunnells, and the Island heritage      centre cost €7 ( including contribution towards heritage centre)

8.00  pm                      Recommended evening meal Ciarán Danny Mikes, cost €15 to be pre booked, to be joined by some of the guides.

10.00 pm                     Music Session – Ciarán Danny Mikes

Sunday 6 May 2012

11.30am – 12.30pm     Tourist Office open for registrations and information

12.00 – 3 pm                Rediscover the new improved marked trails with Seamus Ó’Drisceoil,    visiting the island goat farm en route, cost €5

1.00 pm to 3.00 pm     Tourist Office open.

3pm                             Circumnavigate the Island in the Dún an Óir 11 with commentary by Niamh Ní Drisceoil – weather permitting, cost €7

4.30 pm – 5.30 pm      Tourist Office open.

5 pm – 7 pm                NEW EVENT – Nature Walk with resident ecologist Geoff Oliver, discover the emerging flora and fauna with our entertaining local ecologist, cost €5

Monday 7 May 2012

11.30 – 12.30              Tourist Office open

12.00                           Historical Walk around Island

The celebrations of the Centenary of the Titanic’s departure from Cobh will commence with a Titanic Themed Fancy Dress in Club Cléire for all the family from 7 to 10 pm. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes in different age groups

Up to 10 years of age
10 to 18 years of age
Over 18 years

The theme of the event shall be the ‘American Wake’ and all available musicians and singers are invited to contribute. The Club itself will be decorated in a Titanic theme and island residents with old chests or other items which might create the required ‘atmosphere’ are asked to loan them for the event.

Between 9 and 10pm as night falls a beacon shall be lit on one of the Island’s high points.

Ceiliúrach an Titanic ar Oileán Chléire
An Ceadaoine 11 Aibreán 2012

Tosóidh an ceiliúradh céad bliain seo ar seoladh deireanach an Titanic ó Cobh, Chorcaí le Coisír Feisteas Bréige don clann ar fad bunaithe ar théama an Titnaic sa Chlub idir 7pm agus 10pm. Bronnfar duaiseanna le haghaidh na feistis is fearr ins na rannóga éagsúla mar seo a leanas:-

Faoi 10 mbliain d’aois
Idir 10 agus 18 bliain d’aois
Thar 18 bliain d’aois

Is é an ‘American Wake’ an téama don trathnóna agus tugtar cuireadh do ghach ceolteoir agus amhranaí gur féidir leo a bheith i láthait. Beidh an Chlub féin maisithe I dtéama ‘Titanic’ agus iarrtar ar áitreoirí go bhfuil propanna acu a bheidh oiriúnach iad a thabhairt ar iasacht.

Idir 9 agus 10 pm le titim na hoíche lasfar tine cnámh ar ceann de árd phointí an Oileáin.

ENDS

Aficionados of Cape Clear and especially those with interests in wildlife and ornithology will be delighted with the spring edition of ‘Wings’, the official magazine of Birdwatch Ireland which boasts a special feature on Cape Clear Island. Penned by resident warden Steve Wing, the three page spread provides a stunning map of the Island with accompanying commentary on the most popular bird watching spots interspersed with superb photos. It reminds us that during late April and May the Island is one of the best places in Ireland to witness spring migration. Appropriately sub titled “your two-day spring itinerary” it provides all necessary guidance for a few days bird watching on the Island.

Some of the areas included are also prime spots for whale and dolphin watching, with species such a Common Dolphins, Porpoises, Minke Whales and Basking Sharks amongst others regularly seen.

Having had a hand myself in various maps of Cape Clear over the years I can say with some authority that this particular one is one of the best and most attractive yet produced for its clarity and presentation and would be useful for anyone interested in walking on the Island as it also includes the red and green walking trails developed in recent years. Elsewhere in the magazine details are given of the range of weekend and week-long residential bird watching and ecological courses proposed for 2012 from €95.

‘Wings’ is available to members of Birdwatch Ireland which is €40 p.a. for adults. More information available at www.birdwatchireland.ie.

Séamus Ó Drisceoil,

Cape Clear Island

ENDS

Birdwatch Ireland has recently published its list of wildlife courses proposed for Cape Clear Island for 2012. The Bird Observatory has been a feature of the Island for over 50 years which is a key destination for birdwatchers and naturalists from all over the World. The courses cater for both newcomers and experienced alike and vary from two to five days. All courses include both indoor and outdoor sessions in some of the most spectacular scenery one can imagine.

Full details are available on the Birdwatch Ireland website (http://www.birdwatchireland.ie)

Courses take place from May to September.

ENDS

Provided by Séamus O’Drisceoil. Thank you Séamus for this.

UNION HALL Community are seeking helpers to donate food (soup, sandwiches and buns) and also to help out this weekend with the serving the recovery teams both Sat and Sun 9am.

A boat tragedy fund has been set up in the AIB Skibbereen branch (sort code 93-63-75 a/c 10009183) in support of the crew members and their families for anyone who may wish to donate.

ENDS

On these days weekend visitors to the West Cork/Baltimore area will be happy to enjoy an afternoon taking in the spectacular scenery of Roaringwater Bay as they make a return sailing to Oileán Chléire. The Dún an Oir 11 is especially suitable given its upper deck seating which offers viewing in all directions. The usual return fare of €16 for adults and €8 for children has been slashed to €10 and €5 respectively.

Available only on Saturdays

Departing Baltimore at 2pm

Returning from Cape Clear at 4pm

No online booking or other discounts apply.

Please check website www.cailinoir.com for sailings or phone 086-3465110.

Subject to weather and other conditions.

ENDS