I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Oh my, my, my July! (Thank you, Mundy,…) High summer is when we hit peak West Cork. Other times of the year are delightful, but high summer, with its extra nine hours of daylight (compared to December) is what the hype is all about. Sure, where would you be going?
I know that the weather can dampen the mood but, really the weather makes no never mind. West Cork is beautiful in the summer, whether sunny or grey. It’s also fun, with festivals, BBQs, weddings and all the ‘craic agus ceol’ you could ever wish for. Thanks to gentrification we also now have saunas on the beach and really good food. Gone are the days when a coffee was instant Maxwell House mild and a limp ham sandwich was standard fare. You can get a decent iced latte pretty much anywhere and we now boast Michelin-starred restaurants. It’s what attracts so many visitors every summer (and very welcome you all are who may be reading this on your hols).
For those of us who live here all year round, we know that there’s more to it than breathtaking landscapes, tasty seafood, and great music sessions. The true magic of West Cork is in its people. We’re a mixed bunch of homegrown and blow-ins and it might not be obvious what a farmer and a hippie artist have in common. But here’s the thing – people in West Cork care. They care about the so called ‘little’ things. Whether it’s calling in to visit an elderly neighbour, or driving a friend to the airport, people in West Cork are always ready to help each other out.
They also care about ‘bigger’ things. Many of the local organisations are set up to help people make West Cork better for all, from the Tidy Towns that keep villages and towns looking their best to beach clean-ups and the Apple Festivals that allow us to press the apples from our orchards. Look around you. This place is wonderful – but that’s no accident. It’s due to hours of hard work put in by people who care.
Sometimes caring takes a more collective role – especially when what makes West Cork so very special is threatened. We saw it years ago with the movements to stop a plastics factory being operated on the Ilen River, as well as the actions taken to stop the mining of kelp in Bantry bay.
Recently, several new issues have popped up that threaten our community. I take this opportunity to highlight just a few:
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition objecting to the granting of planning permission for a mussel farm in Kinsale, Co Cork, which they say will be the size of “12 GAA pitches”. The proposed site is located directly adjacent to beautiful Dock Beach.
The wetlands around the Bandon River are under threat from a sand and gravel quarry. The Save Murragh: West Cork Community Group was formed to help preserve this little bit of West Cork wonderland.
The Save our Sprat was set up in June 2025 when it became evident that the loss of sprat in our waters was an urgent matter that has already affected the wildlife on our coast. It is a credit to them that they have already pushed measures to be adopted that are intended to protect the sprat in our waters, though it’s far from a solution so the fight goes on. “It is important to point out that, while this is a very positive step to protect our inshore waters, for sprat and other species, we must remain vigilant and ensure the measures are implemented and enforced effectively.”
The Clonakilty Community Arts Centre will be forced to close if suitable premises are not found. It has been given notice to vacate after being a hub for community arts for 12 years, providing artists’ studios, workshops, gallery exhibitions, and classes for both children and adults. A rally to ‘Save our Arts Centre’ will be held on August 2 at 2pm.
When I think of it, a beautiful beach, a biodiverse wetland, sprat and art and people who care, are a good way to start describing the soul of West Cork. So, enjoy the last of the summer and get involved in ensuring that our West Cork soul is protected. It’s worth saving.
