Living the Sheep's Head Way

  • The Sheep’s Head Way
  • Loop Walks
  • Accommodation
    • B&Bs
    • Hotels
    • Farmhouse Accommodation
    • Campsites

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Things to Do
    • Walking
      • Sheep's Head Way Main Route
      • Loop Walks
        • Difficulty
          • Easy
          • Moderate
          • Hard
        • Time
          • Under 3 hours
          • 3-5 hours
          • 5 hours or more
        • Trailheads
          • Ahakista
          • Bantry West
          • Black Gate
          • Dún Óir
          • Durrus
          • Goat's Path
          • Kilcrohane
          • Tooreen
          • Whiddy Island
      • Walking Guides
    • Courses & Training
    • Crafts
    • Culture
    • Gardens
    • History
    • Cycling
    • Pony Trekking
    • Sailing & Kayaking
  • What's On
    • Events
    • Scheduled Courses
    • Festivals
  • Food
    • Cafés
    • Restaurants
    • Food Producers
    • Food Tours
    • Coeliac-Friendly
  • Where to Stay
    • B&B
    • Hotels
    • Self-Catering Holiday Homes
    • Farmhouse Accommodation
    • Campsites
    • Luxury Accommodation
    • Accessible Accommodation
  • News
  • How to Get Here
  • Location
    • Map
    • Ahakista
    • Bantry
    • Ballylickey
    • Drimoleague
    • Durrus
    • Kilcrohane
    • Whiddy Island
  • Services
    • Shops
    • Taxi Services
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Archives for Art Gallery

Black Gate: Alice West Centre & Café

January 4, 2014 by Dunmanus

Alice West Centre - Black Gate

The café, art gallery and butter house museum at the Black Gate in Kilcrohane celebrates the crafts, history, and walks of the Sheep’s Head peninsula

The old butter house building at the Black Gate dates from the 1890s. It was once a busy trading centre for the people from the north and west of the peninsula who were able to sell home-produced butter and eggs there.

In 1968, English-born artist Alice West bought and restored the building as a rural craft museum. For many years, the Black Gate museum outside Kilcrohane served as her home, but it was also open to the public. Alice was an enthusiastic patron of traditional music and a mentor to young people who Alice encouraged to learn craft skills in her basement workshop.

On her death, Alice West bequeathed the Black Gate to the community. Today, many of her paintings, and examples from her collection of rural antiquities are on display in the recently-renovated building.

The Sheep’s Head peninsula in West Cork is home to the Sheep’s Head Way walking route, spectacular scenery and unspoilt countryside. The Alice West Centre at the Black Gate is ideally situated as part of your walk or driving tour whilst also being a worthwhile destination in itself.

Call in for tea, coffee, snacks and Wi-Fi. With outstanding views across Dunmanus Bay, the Alice West Centre provides a welcoming venue to visitors and locals alike. Regular events include storytelling, traditional dancing and craft demonstrations.

Filed Under: Activity Venue, Art Gallery, Attractions, Cafés, Kilcrohane

Wild Atlantic Way

What’s On

August 2025
Masters of Tradition 2024
Aug 20 - 24 2025

Masters of Tradition: A Traditional Music Festival

Bantry
No event found!

Visit Historic Places

Bantry House B&B

The Sheep’s Head is a peninsula rich in history and you’ll find traces of its past all along the Sheep’s Head Way walking route.

Find out more

Pure cork

Featured Activity

Bantry Bay Pony Trekking

Bantry Bay Pony Trekking

Enjoy pony trekking in Bantry and take in fantastic views over West Cork’s bays and hills Enjoy breathtaking scenery on a pony trekking trail ride through ancient forest to Maggie Murphy’s cottage on Hollyhill, just 5 minutes from Bantry. One of our 20 ponies and horses will look after you as we ride along well-maintained […]

More Activities

Featured Accommodation

Blairscove Accommodation

Blairscove House

Surrounded by 4.5 acres of lawns and gardens, in West Cork, Blairscove House and restaurant is the ideal place to spend a few relaxing days Since 1972, Blairscove has remained in the hands of the same family; and Philippe and Sabine De Mey, the present owners, continue to provide top quality dining and accommodation. The […]

More Accommodation

This project has been supported by Cork County Council & the LEADER programme under the Rural Development Programmes 2007-13 and 2017-2021.
  • The Sheep’s Head Way
  • Loop Walks
  • Accommodation
Sheep's Head & Bantry Tourism Cooperative, copyright 2018 | Website by Wordhoard Communications