Cape Clear Island facts for kids
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Native name:
Cléire
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View from the island's South Harbour
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 Cape Clear Island
Location in island of Ireland
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| Geography | |
| Location | Carbery's Hundred Isles |
| Coordinates | 51°26′N 9°30′W / 51.433°N 9.500°W |
| Area | 6.7 km2 (2.6 sq mi) |
| Length | 5.2 km (3.23 mi) |
| Width | 2.4 km (1.49 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 160 m (520 ft) |
| Highest point | Cnoicín an tSeabhaic |
| Administration | |
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Ireland
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| Province | Munster |
| County | Cork |
| Barony | Carbery West |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 147 (2016) |
| Pop. density | 18.6 /km2 (48.2 /sq mi) |
| Additional information | |
| The island is a Gaeltacht | |
Cape Clear Island (also known as Cléire in Irish) is a small island off the southwest coast of County Cork in Ireland. It is the southernmost place in Ireland where people live. About 147 people call this island home.
Cape Clear Island is special because it's a Gaeltacht area. This means that the Irish language is spoken here every day. Most people on the island speak both Irish and English. The island is quite small, only about 5.2 kilometers long and 2.4 kilometers wide. It's divided into two parts, East and West, by a narrow strip of land called the Waist.
You can catch a ferry from the North Harbour to places like Schull and Baltimore on the mainland. The South Harbour is a great spot for yachts and other boats to dock.
Island History: What Happened Here?
Cape Clear Island has a long and interesting past! You can find many old sites here. These include ancient stones with special markings and old burial places. There are also standing stones and a fort from long ago. A signal tower from the Napoleonic Wars also stands on the island.
The island is also famous for being the birthplace of Saint Ciarán of Saigir. He was an important early Christian saint. Near the main pier, you can see the ruins of a church from the 12th century.
A long time ago, in the 1800s, over 1,000 people lived on Cape Clear. But after a big famine, the population became much smaller. Today, fewer than 150 people live here. The island's main school was built in 1897. A special visitor, Mary McAleese, who was the President of Ireland, came to the school in 1998.
For many years, the island made its own electricity using diesel generators. But around 1995, a special submarine power cable was laid. This cable now brings electricity to the island from the mainland.
Culture and Language: Speaking Irish!
Cape Clear Island is officially a Gaeltacht area. This means it's a place where the Irish language is kept alive. In 2016, about 62% of people over age 3 on the island could speak Irish. About 27% said they spoke Irish daily outside of school.
During the summer, the island gets busier! Many students come to special Irish Colleges here. These colleges are called Coláiste Phobal Chléire and Coláiste Chiaráin. Students stay in local homes or dorms. They practice speaking Irish every day as part of their immersion courses. This helps them get better at the language.
Every year, on the first weekend of September, the island hosts a fun event. It's called the Cape Clear Island International Storytelling Festival. People have been sharing stories at this festival since 1994!
Wildlife: What Animals and Plants Live Here?
Cape Clear Island is a great place for nature lovers! In the waters around the island, you can often spot seals. You might also see huge basking sharks and playful dolphins swimming by.
On the land, you'll find pretty plants like sea pinks and sweet-smelling honeysuckle. The island is also home to a lighthouse and a special bird observatory. Bird watchers love Cape Clear! Many different kinds of migratory birds visit the island. This is because the weather here is milder than on the mainland.
Some of the birds you might see include black guillemots and common guillemots. You can also spot cormorants and tiny storm petrels.
