Sherkin Island
Ireland · Other
About Sherkin Island
Sherkin Island or Inisherkin is one of the islands of Roaringwater Bay in County Cork, a short ferry ride from Baltimore. Its Irish name Inis Arcáin means "Island of the Piglet", which probably refers to sea-pigs meaning porpoises. The island is 5 km by 2.4 km, indented to the north by Kinish Harbour and to the south by the smaller Horseshoe Harbour, and in 2022 had a population of 110.
Visitor information is on the island website.
Sherkin Island travel guide
Getting there
The ferry sails from Baltimore every hour or two year-round, taking 10 min to cross. In 2025 the adult return fare is €15, child €4. No bikes or vehicles are carried. 1 Harboursmouth is the island pier. Private boats should moor at the little jetty 100 m north. There is no ferry service between Sherkin Island and Cape Clear Island to the southwest: you have to backtrack via Baltimore.
Getting around
A minibus meets the ferries and will take you anywhere for €2.50, but you only need it with luggage and small children. Otherwise walk everywhere.
See
The Abbey overlooking the ferry pier was a Franciscan Friary established in 1460. Being so remote, it was little affected by the Reformation, and friars remained on the island until 1766. The ruin is free to stroll around anytime. Dun na Long is an ivy-clad scrap of a medieval fort 300 m north of the pier, by Sherkin House Hotel, which has closed down. 1 The Dock is an inlet at the north end of the lane from the ferry pier. Only small craft can get in here. 2 The Lighthouse at Barrack Point is a stubby tower with a harbour light for boats approaching Baltimore. The inlet just west is Horseshoe Harbour. 3 Trá Bán is a sandy beach. The lane continues west to end at Trá Cru but this is a rocky inlet. 4 Cow Strand then Silver Strand are reached along the lane branching north at the church, and continuing to North Shore.
Do
Take a stroll. It's not the place for rushing round ticking off "sights".
Buy
Sean the Shop closed down in 2024, so there's no shop on the island.
Sleep
1 Sherkin North Shore, Cloddagh P81 XY47, ☏ +353 87 618 5368. Campsite open all year plus six double rooms en suite and cafe. Camping €30. (updated Sep 2025) Wild camping is tolerated in the dunes at Silver Strand, near North Shore. Please don't leave trash or poop, or there might be a clamp-down.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.