News from the Sheep's Head Way

German Country Homes Magazine Features Sheep’s Head

January 22, 2018 by Dunmanus

Word about the beauty and character of the Sheep’s Head Way has reached readers of Germany’s Country Home magazine

A beautifully illustrated article documents the author’s visits to some of Ireland’s EDEN destinations – otherwise known as European Destinations of Excellence.

The Sheep’s Head was named as an EDEN destination for sustainable tourism in 2009 and, as the article shows, it remains an unspoilt gem on Ireland’s coastline to this day. The feature introduces its German audience to Dunbeacon Pottery, walks with David Ross from Top of the Rock Pod Pairc and the fun to be had with Bantry Bay Pony Trekking.

Bantry House looks simply stunning in the gorgeous photos that accompany the article, and there are lovely mentions for The Fish Kitchen, Blairscove House and Heron Gallery Café and Gardens. Of course, Durrus Cheese also wins a positive mention!

Wonderful Hospitality

The author reserves special praise for the wonderful hospitality to be found at the award-winning Carbery Guest Lodge where the author was made very welcome. We hope the many readers of the magazine will consider making their own journeys to our beautiful part of the world to see for themselves why the Sheep’s Head is a little bit of EDEN right here on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Check out the article here

Carve the Date in Stone for the West Cork Stone Symposium!

January 1, 2018 by Dunmanus

The West Cork Stone Symposium celebrates stone as part of our environment and as a source of inspiration throughout the ages

For generations, artists, makers, producers, and dreamers have been inspired by the stone that forms our peninsulas, islands, rolling hills, and valleys. Stone tells a story that unlocks the flavours, textures, landscapes, and creativity of our Wild Atlantic shoreline.

The West Cork Stone Symposium (March 23–25 2018) in Kilcrohane will be a hands-on, creative celebration of stonecraft, and it’s set to feature craft workshops, talks and tours against the backdrop of the rugged peninsulas and islands on Ireland’s southwest coastline. The symposium follows on from a hugely successful first run last year in Ahakista.

Unleash Your Creativity

Visitors will be able to unleash their creativity as they learn from some of the world’s best dry stone wallers, carvers, and sculptors. Workshop-goers will work beside some of the most skilled craftspeople in Ireland as they begin to master ancient but timeless craft skills. The symposium’s workshops on dry stone walling and stone carving are open to people of all abilities. If you’re an absolute beginner or looking to improve your skills for a project of your own, head to West Cork’s Sheep’s Head peninsula on the Wild Atlantic Way for what’s sure to be a creative and collaborative weekend.

“We’re delighted to be passing on traditional skills”, says Victor Daly, a sculptor and stone carver who is the West Cork Stone Symposium’s creative director. “Dry stone walling and stone carving are really ancient crafts, and the work we do is so much part of the landscape of the west of Ireland that people almost see it as part of nature.”

“Dry stone walling and stone carving have helped to shape the identity of the Wild Atlantic Way, and they reflect the character and creativity of our communities too. We’re looking forward to welcoming people to our gathering so that they can immerse themselves in West Cork life and play a part in carrying ancient skills and traditions into the future.”

Visitors to the symposium are sure to draw inspiration at the bustling workshops from the rugged coastline of West Cork’s Sheep’s Head peninsula – a European Destination of Excellence that’s home to one of Ireland’s most creative communities. Don’t miss this chance to gain a unique insight into the environment and the creativity of the people who live here on the very edge of Europe.

Programme & Booking Information

To book workshops and find out more, visit http://westcorkstonesymposium.com

O’Daly Bardic School Project

October 26, 2016 by Dunmanus

An exciting heritage project is making progress in researching the story of the O’Daly Bardic School which existed near Kilcrohane in the medieval period

In 2016, Muintir Bháire Community Council engaged John Tierney of Eachtra Archaeological Projects to conduct a conservation plan for the remains and site of the O’Daly Bardic School in Dromnea, east of Kilcrohane village. They set about mapping the site of the school, and their work was funded by a Heritage Council grant, awarded to the Muintir Bháire Community Council.

The archaeologists mapped the structures at the site using a high-tech remote camera to produce 3D images. They also reviewed existing date and historical sources to assess how the site fits into local and national contexts. This research phase has made clear that the site is strongly linked to the story of the medieval Gaelic era before the Flight of the Earls.

Listen to John Tierney’s Talk

John Tierney presented his research findings to a public meeting in Kilcrohane on 25th October, 2016, and you can listen to it here …

You can also take a look at the slides John used in his presentation …

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Newspaper Reports on the O’Daly Bardic School Project

Bardic School Research has Unearthed a New Mystery (October 2016)

Modern Bard Visits Ancient Kilcrohane O’Daly School Site (August 2016)

Kilcrohane’s Ancient University Site to be Mapped (June 2016)

Related Project: Walks Research

An interest in making more of our local heritage sites is key to another local project which is gathering views on the future development of the Sheep’s Head Way walking route. We’d be very grateful if you’d consider filling in a form to share your views on what might be done in the years ahead!

Local Feedback Form – http://bit.ly/2dgU7cd
Visitors’ Feedback Form – http://bit.ly/2dXdJVu

Any decisions about the future and development of the walkways will of course be made by the Sheep’s Head Way Ltd. and its members in a democratic way. Quite simply, what we’re doing here is collecting evidence from as many interested parties as possible so that local views are considered at every stage of planning for the development of tourism along the Sheep’s Head Way in the years ahead.
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The Sheep’s Head & Bantry Tourism Co-operative is delighted to help the O’Daly project by providing this information page which we’ll update regularly. To find out more about the tourism co-op, visit http://livingthesheepsheadway.com/join-the-sheeps-head-bantry-tourism-co-operative/ or contact Siobhán on 086 303 0991.

Gardens of the Sheep’s Head Way

May 12, 2016 by Dunmanus

West Cork gardens are shaped by great imaginations and the Gulf Stream climate

We’re able to grow an extraordinary range of plants by our Atlantic coastline thanks to the warmth the Gulf Stream brings. The lovely mild climate we experience all along the Sheep’s Head Way walking route – on the Sheep’s Head peninsula itself and in the more sheltered areas inland – is taken advantage of by our innovative gardeners.

They show great ingenuity, whether they’re working on grand estates or in smaller idylls, each with their own unique character. There are wonders to be found all along the Sheep’s Head Way for anyone with a passion for plants and the beautiful environment we’re blessed with here in West Cork.

Variety and Ingenuity Combined

Explore the terraced West Cork gardens at Bantry House, and climb the steps to look out across the house, its gorgeous grounds, and Bantry Bay. And call to meet the gardeners who bring extraordinary colour and variety to plots across West Cork’s Sheep’s Head peninsula at Ballinvillon, Ballycommane, Heron Gallery and Carraig Abhainn.

Visits to the lovely gardens on the Sheep’s Head peninsula are truly rewarding. And the tearoom at Bantry House and the café at Heron Gallery give you the perfect excuses to treat yourself while you’re on tour!

Our West Cork gardens are close to the mountain trails and cliff-top walks of the Sheep’s Head Way, and, while you’re visiting the area, you’ll enjoy the chance to see our creative craftspeople at work too. There’s creativity in evidence at every turn here, as you’ll soon see!

See the full list of our Sheep’s Head gardens here!

Explore even more West Cork gardens when you set out on the West Cork Garden Trail!

Twelve Ideas for a Sheep’s Head Christmas

December 7, 2015 by Dunmanus

In a bid to help you put a bit of Sheep’s Head cheer into your Christmas, we’ve compiled a list of ideas for Christmas gifts with a Sheep’s Head twist!

12. A Dunbeacon Pottery teapot
11. A Manning’s Emporium hamper
10. A handmade Cronin’s Forge lamp
9. Sheep’s Head Producers’ crafts
8. Bantry Craft Shop jewellery
7. A stone-carving workshop voucher
6. An Annabel Langrish print
5. Fab things made from felt!
4. The Fish Kitchenps-head-way-book/”>The book of the Sheep’s Head Way’
3. A weekend away in a great place to stay
2. T-Shirt saying you’ve walked this way
One Durrus Cheese

And vouchers for some great places to eat.

This is so far from being an exhaustive list, but we hope we’ve sparked your imagination!

Vouchers for The Fish Kitchen, Arundel’s, The Old Creamery, or The Brick Oven make lovely presents. Special offers are available for stays at The Maritime, or The Westlodge, and a booking at one of the great places to stay along the Sheep’s Head Way is sure to bring a smile to the faces of your nearest and dearest well into 2016.

The promise of a commissioned painting from Danny Smith or Fiona Power would make a wonderful surprise on Christmas day too.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas from all of us here along the Sheep’s Head Way!

Join the Sheep’s Head & Bantry Tourism Cooperative

September 9, 2015 by Dunmanus

Join the award-winning Sheep’s Head & Bantry Tourism Co-operative and support our campaign to promote responsible tourism along the route of West Cork’s Sheep’s Head Way

Why Join the Sheep’s Head & Bantry Co-op?

The promotion of our area as a complete entity makes it easy for tourists to appreciate the benefits of a visit and the delights of “living the Sheep’s Head Way”: it joins together the things we offer as separate businesses into a coherent offering and tells a story no one business can tell on its own (the Crafty Tour of the Sheep’s Head is an example of this strategy at work). We’re also able to work much more effectively with Fáilte Ireland on developing Wild Atlantic Way experiences and promoting them to potential visitors and tour operators.

Our focus is on helping to develop sustainable tourism businesses that benefit our community, safeguard our environment, and create truly memorable experiences for visitors. You can see our responsible tourism policy here.

We’ve achieved a lot so far, but there’s still lots to do … We’d be delighted to have your support.

Membership benefits include:

* Listing on our website (+ see conditions for this benefit below) for your business, packages and events (c.26,000 visits per year).
* Tips, news and advice shared via a regular “members only” newsletter.
* Increased exposure for your business via our marketing co-ordinator’s work with Fáilte Ireland, our fellow EDEN destinations, Cruise West Cork, and other regional, national and international initiatives.
* Organisation and coordination of press tours (We had German and Belgian press trips last year generating very valuable coverage and had a delegation of 20 EU observers visiting in September 2017).
* Practical marketing support for initiatives that stand to benefit multiple co-op businesses (This year we are representing you at the Irish Tour Operators Association event and Meitheal – Ireland’s largest inbound tour operator event).
* Destination promotion via our website and social media campaigns on Facebook, Twitter & elsewhere.
* Brochures
* Destination promotion through regular public newsletters & the maintenance of an up-to-date events calendar.
* *Members can now add up to 6 photos to their listing*
* Membership Window Sticker.

New Memberships will expire on 31st January 2019.

In the last year, funds covered a contract for 10 hours of marketing & website support each week from Siobhán Burke of Wordhoard Communications; brochure printing and development, and participation in trade and tourism events. The marketing support we engaged enabled us to provide the services above and to secure press coverage in Ireland and abroad, as well as a number of prestigious awards.

We’re hugely grateful to our committee members and member businesses for the considerable amount of voluntary support we’ve received since the co-op began work in September 2013. We are also grateful for the outstanding support we have received from the West Cork Development Partnership and Cork County Council. We will be using our subscription base to bolster funding applications we plan to make for ongoing support to keep our campaign going into the future.

You are welcome to join the co-op as a business member, or as an associate member – a kind of local tourism ambassador! We’d be delighted to have your support.

+Please note that due to restrictions on our funding terms, accommodation that is not approved by Fáilte Ireland cannot be listed directly on our website at http://livingthesheepsheadway.com, and is listed instead at http://westcorkholidayaccommodation.com

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Join Offline

If you’d rather join ‘offline’, you should fill out our membership form and send it with a cheque for €100 to the Sheep’s Head & Bantry Tourism Cooperative (made out to that organisation), c/o Crocon Engineers, 4 Main Street, Town Lots, Bantry, Co. Cork.

Online banking payments can be made to:
BIC AIBKIE2D
IBAN: IE18AIBK93601414365026

Please indicate your name and business name clearly in your bank transfer transaction.
We will issue invoices by email within one week.

If you have any questions at all, please contact Siobhán on 086 303 0991.

AGM

We will hold an annual AGM at the Philips Green Centre, Durrus, Co. Cork to which all are welcome! Subscriptions can be renewed or begun at this event or at any other time.
Thanks so much for your support.