Bantry Bay

Bantry Bay is a magnificent 35 km bay in County Cork, stretching far inland from the county. With the islands of Whiddy Island and Bere Island in the distance, Bantry is a beautiful bay with a perfect blend of mountains, forests, rocks, stones and white sandy beaches.

History of Bantry Bay

The Failure of Bantry Bay in the Irish Rebellions of 1798

The bay is said to have seen a high point in history during the Irish Rebellions of 1798. In 1796, a French fleet was ordered to support the Irish, who wanted to emancipate themselves from the British presence on their territory. On board was a strong army of 43 ships and 13,000 men, as well as the famous Theobald Wolfe Tone, an Irish activist for Irish independence.

To be as unobtrusive as possible, the 13,000 men traveled in small numbers, using a host of ships to reach Bantry Bay and join the rest of the fleet. Only a few ships were delayed by storms, and General Hoche, then in charge of the entire fleet, was one of the stragglers.

Once the ships had reached the bay, they had to turn back and cancel the operation, for safety’s sake, due to the absence of their general. This episode in Irish history was experienced by many as a bitter failure.

Oil rig explosion in 1970 in the heart of Bantry Bay

Another milestone in Bantry Bay’s history was the construction of its oil rig in the 20th century. In the 1970s, the French oil tanker “La Beltegeuse” suffered a dreadful accident, killing 50 people in a badly-controlled fire that blew up the vessel…

Fortunately, Bantry Bay was only slightly polluted by this event. The fauna and flora were preserved without damage, thanks to the work of the teams in charge of recovering the waste from the oil rig.

Visit Bantry Bay

Beaches and fishing villages

Bantry House – © Fabiano

Bantry Bay is a paradise for walkers who love beautiful coastal scenery. In fact, it’s possible to walk along the entire length of the bay, passing through a few seaside villages. Among them, Castletown Bearhaven and Curryglass are our favorites, with their colorful little streets, quaint pubs and the few boats bobbing in their tiny harbors. The locals are very friendly, and it’s great to stop off for a cold pint!

If you’re more in the mood for a drive, there’s a road that loops around Bantry Bay and runs along the coast. The views are magnificent, offering some truly stunning panoramas.

If you like the open sea, then a few shuttles will take you to Vere Island and Whiddy Island, the 2 islands in Bantry Bay, both of which are still inhabited.