Clonakilty is a city in County Cork on the western south coast of the Republic of Ireland.
Clonakilty is located near the Celtic Sea on the coast of County Cork on a typical “tourist route”, the N71 from Cork City via Skibbereen and Kenmare to Killarney in County Kerry.
The main source of income in the region is in addition to tourism revenues in the dairy industry. Clonakilty became known as the birthplace of the Irish independence fighter and politician Michael Collins (1890-1922), who died a few miles from his birthplace. The population of the city was determined in the 2016 Census with 4592 people. There are twinnings with the Lower Franconian Waldaschaff and the Breton Chateaulin. The town is a tourism hub in West Cork, and was recognised as the “Best Town in Europe” in 2017, and “Best Place of the Year” in 2017 by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland
The town won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition in 1999 and every year since then gained awards for its environmental efforts , In 2003, Clonakilty became Ireland’s first ever official Fair Trade Town.
Access : Coordinates: 51.621944, -8.886389 / By bus : The Bus Eireann route 237 connects Clonakilty and Cork several times per day.During the summer months, there is a bus link to Killarney via the N71 road through Skibbereen, Bantry, Glengarriff and Kenmare./By car : Clonakilty is about a 1-hour drive south west along the N71 from Cork. It is part of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Get around : Clonakility is home to ClonBike, the only Bicycle-sharing system in Ireland in a town of Clonakilty’s size
Attractions : Galley Head Lighthouse. The Galley Head Lighthouse is located on the Dundeady headland
Michael Collins Centre , Castleview, Clonakilty, Ireland ,presentations interpreting the life and times of Michael Collins / West Cork Model Railway Village, Inchydoney Rd, 1:24 scale model village from the 1940s /
Michael Collins House , 7 Emmet Square, Clonakilty, Ireland Open : 12:00 – 17:00 / Fernhill Gardens , Fernhil Hotel, Clonakilty, Ireland Open : 11:00 – 22:00 , stunning water features and fabulous views /
Birthplace of Michael Collins , / West Cork Regional Museum , Western Road, Clonakilty, Ireland / Temblebryan Stone Circle , Shannonvale, Clonakilty, Ireland , This small stone circle is actually on private land so be sure to ask permission from the landowner before you trample through the field. /
Lisselan Gardens , Clonakilty, Ireland , €6 per person entry fee / Lisselan House , on the banks of the Argideen River was built in 1851/53 by William Bence-Jones / Clonakilty Library , Kent St, Maulnaskehy, Clonakilty, Co. Cork / the Georgian houses of Emmet Square /
Fernhill House and Gardens / Battle of the Big Cross Monument , Asna Square / Kilgariffe Church (Church of Ireland) is a building of 1818 / The Church of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic) is a large building in Early French Gothic style, designed by George Ashlin and completed in 1880. / The Methodist church is located in the town and recently became the first church in Ireland to win two Eco Congregation Ireland awards.
The old Presbyterian Church was built in 1861 and taken over and used since 1924 as a local Post Office /
Beaches : The Blue Flag beach at Inchydoney Island, just a few miles from Clonakilty , About 15 minutes from Clonakilty and looking out over the Galley Head lighthouse , only minutes from the Long Strand , The Blue Flag beach at The Warren, Rosscarbery,
Owenahincha is a popular family beach 7 miles from Clonakilty , Dunworley Beach is popular with bodyboarders and surfers fans , Duneen is located just 15 minutes from the town of clonakilty ,
Activities : Atlantic Whale & Wildlife Tours / Surf School / Clonakilty Park Adventure Centre / Distillery and Visitor Experience / sprigging lessons / cycling / Visit the Michael Collins Heritage Centre and Michael Collins House / bathing / golf / visit the Great pubs. Often live music
Events : Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon runs annually on the first weekend of December / The West Cork Rally runs every St. Patrick’s weekend around West Cork with Clonakilty as it’s base. / The Cork Open Backgammon Tournament takes place in O’Donovan’s Hotel over the first weekend in March each year. /
The Clonakilty International Guitar Festival takes place in September annually with some of the world’s greatest guitarists./ On Saturday July 1st the South of Ireland Band Championships and The Old Time Fayre will showcase the best band competition held annually Ireland combined with a unique snapshot of what Clonakilty might have looked like in the 1920’s/30’s.
Go next : Rathbarry / Rosscarbery / Explore the islands off the coast of west Cork
