Baltimore, West Cork

Plant and Garden Fair at Inish Beg – 27^th May 2012: Building on the success of last years inaugural Plant & Garden Fair held in association with the West Cork Garden Trail, Inish Beg Estate is hosting its second Garden Fair (now to be an annual event) on Sunday 27th May 2012. A selection of Specialist Nurseries, selling rare Trees, Shrubs, Alpine, Herbaceous and Water Plants, Garden Furniture, Pots, Sculptures, Ornaments and Tools will exhibit. Refreshments will also be available and a marquee will provide shelter should the weather be inclement. Gates open 12 noon to 6pm. Admission €5. Children Free. Free Parking.

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

Friday 29^th June

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.

Announcing the forthcoming fantastic piratical fun weekend at Baltimore on 29th June – 1st July