A place to row your boat out for

CASTLETOWNSHEND is the little village which was home to one half of the Somerville and Ross team, writers of the Irish RM stories.

Their subtle-humoured tales were based on local people and the countryside of West Cork the same vein ploughed by Peter McCarthy in his recent book, McCarthy's Bar.

Another McCarthy (and one mentioned in the travelogue) is auctioneer Charlie McCarthy who's selling the former priest's house in Castletownshend.