Dursey Island (Irish: Baoi Bhéarra or Oileán Baoi) lies at the southwestern tip of the Beara Peninsula in the west of County Cork in Ireland. Dursey Island is 6.5 km long and 1.5 km wide. The island is separated from the mainland by a narrow stretch of water called Dursey Sound which has a very strong tidal race, with a reef of rocks in the centre of the channel which is submerged at high tides. This peaceful island with only twelve or so permanent wintertime residents is connected to the mainland by Ireland's only cable car, and the only cable car which goes over sea water in Europe spanning the sound that is one of its main attractions. Dursey has no shops, pubs or restaurants. The population is about 6 to 8 people.
It is also well known for the nesting colonies of seabirds.
Read more about Dursey Island: Townlands, Archaeological Sites, Bull Rock, Cow Rock, Calf Rock, Gallery
Famous quotes containing the word island:
“An island always pleases my imagination, even the smallest, as a small continent and integral portion of the globe. I have a fancy for building my hut on one. Even a bare, grassy isle, which I can see entirely over at a glance, has some undefined and mysterious charm for me.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)