The coast with the most ...

THERE’S something special about landing on an island, whether you arrive by causeway or by bridge, by air, by ferry or other boat, by swimming, or swing by an island via a cable-car — and you’ve all those choices on offer for Ireland’s hundreds of islands.

Islands can make explorers of us all, appealing to our inner-child, to the naturalist, the bird-watching twitchers, to walkers, and to the recluse, with monastic outposts for the truly ascetic. A few islands appeal to partying hedonists too. The range scattered around the coastline embraces all callers, except Dursey cows.

Last week must have been uncomfortable for Cork County Council — on Thursday, it facilitated a Bantry gathering to promote economic initiatives on west Cork’s seven inhabited islands. That was the same week it hit headlines for banning cows on its upgraded Dursey Island cable car.