Sherkin Island is a ten minute ferryboat ride from the small fishing port of
Baltimore on the mainland. There is an excellent ferry service that operates on
a daily basis all year. This island is located in the beautiful Roaring Water
Bay area off the south-west coast of Ireland and is small, 5 by 3 km, so it is
easy to explore on foot and is home to some of the safest, sandy beaches in the
area. Here you will find a wealth of wild flowers and plants, wild birds, mammals,
insects, and marine life.
Sherkin is steeped in history and is home to a 15th century Franciscan Friary
and the remains of an O' Driscoll castle. The island has a population of 125.
There is a shop/Post Office, a Roman Catholic church, a national school, a Marine
Station, and a community centre which houses a library, a knitting cooperative,
offices and a kitchen and function room. The Jolly Roger pub and the Islander's
Rest Hotel, Bar and Restaurant are open all year and offer superior bar food,
entertainment and hospitality. During the summer months there are lively music
sessions in both these venues. There are also a number of B & Bs. Sherkin
has much to offer in the way of natural beauty and peaceful surroundings and this
together with its vibrant community makes it a perfect destination for that special
visit.
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