CLEAR ISLAND

A Little bit of Background

Cape Clear Island thrives culturally, socially and economically. Electricity is gnerated by 2 Windmills which have been operating since October 1986. They generate 90% of the islands demand during favourable winds (force 3+). The switch-over from diesel to wind completely took place August 1987. The project was funded by the EU, the West German Government , S.M.A. of Kassel (main contractors) and the Department of Energy, Ireland.

Access is by the Naomh Ciaran II, a £250,000 motorcraft built in 1982 accommodating up to 100 passengers and equipped as it is with every modern navigational aid, will make the 45 minute crossing irrespective of weather conditions. The vessel which is owned and operated by the Department of the Gaeltacht has a crew of four - three of whom are on full-time duty. She is skippered by the experienced Conchubhar O'Driscoll and his assistant is Tadhg O'Driscoll. It is berthed overnight on Cape Clear Island and the crew are on stand-by should there be an emergency or a hospital case. The crew can be called on 24 hours a day.

Cleire, Inis Cleire, the island of the clergy, is Irish-speaking and this is probably the reason for its tremendous success. Through the language it has retained its integrity and its viability.

St. Ciaran who is said to have been born on the island established a monastic settlement there. Some years later the O'Driscolls, a powerful clan in that area, built a fort on the island.

A bird obervatory was set up by Bristol University in the 1950's.

Thos Davis, patriot and poet described the massacre of Baltimore from where one departs for Clear Island, in his epic poem, the Sack of Baltimore, which took place in 1631,"The yell of Allah breaks above the prayer, and shriek and roar Oh blessed God, the Algerine is lord of Baltimore."
The poem concludes by blaming a Co. Waterford man,"Tis Hackett of Dungarvan - he who steered the Algerine... Some cursed him with Iscariot, that day in Baltimore."

Copyright ® Island Trust  2002