Clonakilty Harbour

The bay has seen the sailing vessels of Clonakilty's many settlers since medieval times. The Norman families of De Arundel, De Roche and De Barri having come here from Cornwall and Somerset. When Boyle settled his colony of one hundred English families at Clogh Na Kylte in the early 1600's many of those also came from Somerset. These people were mostly puritans and it is interesting to note that the family names of those who probably sailed up the bay, were identical to many of the names that appeared on the roll of the "Mayflower" which sailed for America from Plymouth in 1620. The bay is home to many varieties of birds and boasts of one of Ireland's largest Heron colonies.