The village of Glandore has a place in the hearts of visitors and local people
alike. Although little more than one street, the village is acclaimed as one of
the prettiest in Ireland. It overlooks Glandore Harbour and as a result is a favourite
amongst the boating and sailing fraternity in summer. Its position in the path
of the Gulf Stream ensures a mild climate all year round. Consequently its flora
is diverse and of great interest. Due to the location, plants can be found in
bloom here even if they are out of season elsewhere.
Glandore, or the 'Harbour of the Oaks', was one of the earliest settlements
in West Cork. The Normans arrived and built two castles in 1215. They were later
taken over by the O'Donovan and have been inhabited continuously up to the present
day. The very attractive Church of Ireland (built 1860) with its quaint entrance
gate through the rock is a much photographed feature.
An important event in the development of Glandore began in 1824, with the arrival
of James Redmond Barry. He was a very philanthropic landlord, who developed the
fishing, got the pier built as well as a boatyard in Union Hall. He established
schools to teach fishing and domestic economy. He built a hotel (The Glandore
Inn) in 1828 and organized the first Regatta in 1830. A school was built in 1835
as well as an Agricultural school at the model farm in Ards.
Despite these efforts, Glandore was one of the worst hit areas in West Cork,
during the Great Famine, losing 45% of its population. William Thompson, the philosopher
and one of the first Socialists, is another famous name associated with Glandore,
he established a commune here as a model for his socialist philosophy. Marx refers
to him in Das Kapital.
Curiously, Glandore does not have a shop amongst its amenities. However it
does offer some excellent restaurants and hostelries, among them the Marine Hotel.
