Islands of Ireland: Hardly enough sand to fill a few buckets on Sandy Island, Co Cork

Sandy Island

It is a moot point if Sandy Island in Roaringwater Bay, West Cork is a standalone island or is part of the mini-archipelago known as the Catalogues. Probably many a whiskey in Bush’s Bar in the Square in Baltimore has been sunk arguing over whether to include it or exclude it. The Catalogues is derived from ‘Ceirtleoga’ which translates from the Irish as ‘small balls or rags of yarn’ and if the metaphor is extended then Sandy Island could be said to have a common thread with them.

If ever there were a geographical misnomer, then this is it for there is hardly enough sand there to fill a few buckets. The island is situated just beyond the Sound in an area known as the Narrows where strong currents prevail. If travelling by road between Skibbereen and Schull a southerly road leads to Turk Head pier from where Sandy Island can be seen. And for anyone coming from Cape Clear to Baltimore it is the low-lying island on the right with a single house just before the Sound.