Things to see and do Ireland

Cape Clear Heritage Centre

The Centre boasts a fascinating range of artefacts from the Island’s history collected over 30 years and these are complimented by meticulous research and recordings into all aspects of the Island’s past. These are easily accessible in a range of publications such as Cape Clear Island Heritage Trail, Cape Clear Island, Its People and Landscape, O Driscolls, Past and Present, Naomh Ciarán, Pilgrim Islander, Fastnet Rock, all by the Centre’s Director Éamon Lankford as well others such as The Natural History of Cape Clear Island by JTR Sharrock, Walks of Seven Islands by Damien Enright and Cape Clear Island, A Visual Tour by Chuck Kruger. There is a multimedia display on the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse. Cape Clear Island is the closest landmark to the Fastnet and has a shared history with the first lighthouse based on the Island itself. The exhibition which is evocative, imaginative, interesting and accessible presents a series of short videos combined into the display. The Island has long been a half-way point for sightseers en route to the Fastnet and on fine days there are daily tours around the Rock itself leaving North Harbour at 2pm. An inclusive return package from Baltimore is also available at www.fastnettour.com. Cape Clear Island was one of the last O’Driscoll strongholds and the Heritage Centre has, throughout its lifetime carried out meticulous research into the Clan’s history leading to the publication of the definitive Clan history listed above. The O’Driscoll archives alone contain over 12 volumes with over 1,000 pages of family histories, stories, genealogies, obituaries, articles etc.

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