West Cork beauty spot ‘to wow’ after €300k makeover
The work, which began last October, is almost complete.
All that’s left, says local hotelier Des O’Dowd, is the planting of Marram Grass and an array of wildflowers in March and April.
“The planting is a large part of the project so people won’t see the full effect until that’s in place — it will be very tasteful with lots of wavy grasses and wildflowers,” he said.
The project was planned following consultation with local residents.
While Virgin Mary Point at Inchydoney Beach, near Clonakilty, is a well-known lookout point, in recent years it had become overgrown. The headland was “neither appealing nor safe,” said Mr O’Dowd.
Garden designer Diarmuid Gavin helped out in the pre-planning stage of the new-look headland and picnic spot near Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa.
The headland now boasts a stone amphitheatre and lookout point, curving pathways, stone-faced walls and grass seating.
The project, which has been brought to fruition by landscape designer Mike Waldvogel of Forestbird Design in Cloyne and designer Mike Walsh from Kinsale, has received a “very positive” response from the public Mr O’Dowd said.
The West Cork Development Partnership provided €184,000 towards the cost of the project.
