The pillarstone at North Harbour, Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork is reputedly the oldest of Ireland's Christian monuments. Part of the hereditary lands of the Ó Drisceoil, the island off, West Cork, was the last glimpse of their homeland for emigrants heading out on the atlantic and Fastnet Rock close by was called by them 'Ireland's Teardrop'. At South Harbour pilots boarded Atlantic sail and steamships bound for Cork Harbour or English ports. Reuters' Telegraph Station there, linked USA and Europe. Relics remain of a nineteenth century Signal Tower and Lighthouse. Vistors also enjoy archaeological remains, distinctive stone buildings and fences and rare flora, fauna and bird life. Cape Clear Island: Its People and Landscape in which central attention is given to placenames, celebrates an Irish speaking community who, over many years, have shared their lore and history with the author.

It is generally accepted that St Ciarán was born in Cape Clear Island (Cléire), Co. Cork, Ireland. His memory is revered there and in Seir Kieran, Co. Offaly, while Cornish people honour him as St Piran of Peranzabuloe. In recent times the Parish Council at Peranzabuloe has launched the St Piran project to bring about the restoration of St. Piran's Oratory at St. Piran's in the Sands which has close associations with St. Kieran of Seir and Diocese of Ossory in Ireland. This pilgrim islandman traveled from Cape Clear to Rome and served the early Christian communities of Munster and part of Leinster as well as ministering in Italy, Brittany, Scotland, Wales and Kernow (Cornwall). The Kernow-Seir Kieran Pilgrimage to Cape Clear and Seir Kieran in the Year 2000 was a fitting occasion to present the story of Naomh Ciaran: Pilgrim Islander

The Cape Clear Island Heritage Trail written in both Irish and English by Dr. Éamon Lankford, founder/Director of the Cape Clear Island Museum & Archive leads one on a facinating tour to Megalithic and Bronze Age monuments; standing stones; early Christian sites associated with St. Ciarán, the island's patron saint; the O Driscoll castle of Dún an Óir; the nineteenth century Signal Tower and old Cape Clear Lighthouse and also takes one on an ornithological trail around the islan. The colour map and many photographs allows one to easily identify the sites mentioned in the text. The work has been prepared from research notes and exhibition panels compiled since 1976 for Cape Clear Museum and other writings by the author. References are made to topography, historical events, placenames, shipwrecks, island writers, the cultural landscape and to the people who live in this unique place. A visit to the island Museum and Heritage Centre will provide one with a greater understanding and appreciation of the aspects touched upon in the guide. The guide introduces the reader to the maritime history, folklife and culture of the island community past and present.

The history of Cape Clear Signal Tower, Cape Clear Lighthouse and the building of two lighthouses at the Fastnet Rock and the Fastnet Race 1979 are covered in Fastnet Rock:An Charraig Aonair by Dr. Éamon Lankford. The waters around the Fastnet have been the scene of submarine warfare, shipwrecks and dramatic sea rescues. The Fastnet Lighthouse is one of the world's best known landmarks and it has been the turning mark for the Fastnet Race since 1925. The bienniel Fastnet Race brings colour and excitement to Cape Clear, Baltimore and Schull as the yachts of many nations sail past the now unmanned lighthouse. The Fastnet storm of 1979 turned the race of that year into an international disaster when the greatest tragedy in yachting history took fifteen lives. In Fastnet:An Charraig Aonair tribute is paid to all those who kept watch on the Fastnet since 1854 and to those who lost their lives in the 1979 tragedy.

O Driscolls:Past and Present (2005) looks at the early history of the O Driscoll Clan who have their roots in Corcu Lóegde, now known as Carbery, in West Cork, Ireland. The tale of centuries of missionary activity stretching back to early christian times, heroism, piracy, feuding and open warfare as well as the intrigue, treachery, land grabbing and the adventures from the sixteenth century to the present of some people named O Driscoll are presented in this 193 page beautifully illustrated book. Photographs of castles, people and places, maps and genealogical charts compliment chapters dealing with the following aspects of O Driscoll heritage.

Contents:
1. The O'Driscoll and Corcu Loegde                           7. The Twentieth Century
2. Churchmen, Merchants And Mariners                    8. Maritime O Driscolls
3. Finghin The Rover                                                9. Cape Clear Islanders Named O Drisceoil
4. Clearing The Land And Scattering The Family      10. The O Driscoll' Title
5. Baltimore                                                            11. O Driscoll Castles
6. Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Notables         12. The O Driscoll Disapora

Éamon Lankford was educated at An Mhodhscoil, Corcaigh, De La Salle College, Waterford and University College Cork. His work as founder director of the archive and exhibition centre at Cléire Museum and Heritage Centre has won him wide acclaim. Under his direction, Logainmneacha Chorcaí, set up in 1996 and Áitainmneacha Chiarraí (2000), is engaged in the collection and mapping of the minor placenames of Cork and Kerry. Cape Clear Island: its People and Landscape (1999) shares the fruits of long and meticulous research with a wider public. A lifetime spent collecting island placenames, folklore, genealogical data and maritime material is being prepared as the Cape Clear Island Archive.

Among his other works are Naomh Ciarán:Pilgrim Islander produced for the St. Piran-St. Ciarán, Kernow (Cornwall) -Cape Clear and Seir Kieran (Co. Offaly) Pilgrimage of 2000; The bilingual Heritage Trail (2003) introduces the visitor to the many places associated with the islands natural and cultural landscape; Fastnet: An Charraig Aonair (2004) tells the story of Cape Clear’s Signal Tower and Lighthouse; the building of two lighthouses on the Fastnet Rock and the Fastnet Race of 1979. His 0 Driscolls: Past and Present (2005) gives a
fascinating insight into the the ever evolving 0
Driscoll story worldwide.

Éamon, who was awarded a Doctorate by Maynooth University in 1995, for his onomastic research lives in Douglas, Cork with his wife Máirín and their sons, Ciarán and Ultan.

Books available from:

Cape Clear Museum Society,
c/o An t-Aras,
13 Dyke Parade,
Cork.

Tel. 353 4274110 
FAX 353 4893638 
e-mail: logainmneacha@yahoo.com 

0r if in any difficulty contact us 


They can also be bought online from litriocht.com