Current Information
It currently has a permanent, resident population of 20 people, although there are many visitors in the tourist season, many staying in self-catering accommodation in the form of several restored traditional island cottages.
The island is linked to the mainland by the local ferry, The Ocean Star III, with return trips several times a day. Bike hire is also available on the Island for a nominal fee, as is a local hackney service. as well as trips to and from the Island, tours of the Bay are also available during the summer months, incorporating local history, scenery and the indigenous flora and fauna.
There is one pub, The Bank House, which opens regularly, fresh food and live music from local musicians is also available during the summer months.
The present-day economy is mainly fuelled by the fishing and farming industries. Due to its mild winter temperatures, it has a local reputation for producing the region's earliest potato crop.
Historically, the island shared the strategic significance of Bantry Bay's deepwater anchorage. It possesses a fortified battery built by the British authorities in Napoleonic times, following the arrival of the French Armada in 1796. The island was briefly used as a United States air base during World War I and now has a large oil terminal.
Read more about this topic: Whiddy Island
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