Purple reign: West Cork island to host summer festival to celebrate biggest ever lavender harvest

Cape Clear will host its inaugural Féile Lus Liath Chléire next month to celebrate its largest ever harvest of the aromatic herb and the wide range of products it is helping to produce

Patsy Ó Drisceoill and Carmi Paris tending to some of the lavender plants on Cape Clear, off Cork, which is set to host its first lavender festival next month.

An island community has announced a new summer festival to celebrate its flourishing lavender industry which is generating new income and adding an evocative scent of summer to the fresh island air.

The Cape Clear Gaeltacht off West Cork will host its inaugural Féile Lus Liath Chléire next month to celebrate its largest ever harvest of the aromatic herb, the wide range of products it is helping to produce, and the island’s community spirit and dedication to sustainable farming practices.

Organisers have now issued an open invitation to people to join the festivities, experience the charm of the island, and immerse themselves in the beauty and benefits of the versatile herb.

The iconic sweet-scented violet-hued herb is synonymous with the scent of summer. In Provence in France, where fields of lavender stretch as far as the eye can see, the plant supports an industry worth an estimated €55m a year.

In 2021, Cape Clear islanders launched their Cape Lavender community initiative to identify a crop that was compatible with island’s character, was in keeping with its agricultural heritage, would contribute to its agritourism future and would complement existing enterprises.

The initiative was spearheaded by Joe Driscoll, a US-based philanthropist whose grandfather came from Cape Clear and who spends several summer months on the island.

They planted three different lavender varieties, munstead, hidcote and grosso, and reached 'critical mass' in 2022 with 5,000 lavender plants blooming on various plots around the island.

It has spawned a major new industry, with about 20 people involved, and a range of products, including lavender-infused island-distilled gin crafted at Cape Clear Distillery, Ireland’s first and only island distillery, as well as lavender ale, soap, candles, body sprays, hand balm and ice cream.

They will be showcased at the festival from July 12 to 14, beginning with a lavender gin and ale tasting session at Club Chléire.

Saturday will kick off with a farmer's market, showcasing lavender-based products, local produce and artisanal goods, with a series of workshops and talks focusing on the cultivation, uses and benefits of lavender.

Expert speakers will cover topics such as lavender farming techniques, the therapeutic properties of lavender, and creative ways to incorporate lavender into everyday life.

There will be guided walks and farm visits running from 11am to 4pm, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the island's lavender farms, with insights from the farmers themselves, and festival-goers will also be able to participate in hands-on workshops, making lavender wreaths and essential oil distillation.

Booking for the events is advisable and there is a cost for some activities, with full details on capeclearlavender.com or @CapeClearLavender on Instagram, with ferry times from Baltimore and Schull at capeclearferries.com.