Island's of Ireland: Long Island waiting for normal to return

Long Island has 15 to 20 people living on it depending on the time of year. It has recently added three people, including children, to its permanent residents. Picture: Dan Linehan

New York isn’t the only geographic region in the world to possess a Long Island and a Coney Island. And with Baltimore, Maryland, just down the Interstate 95, you could be forgiven for thinking that the northeastern seaboard of the US has a distinctively West Cork vibe.

West Cork’s Long Island and Coney Island lie about 15km due west from Baltimore in the capricious Roaringwaterbay. Schull is the nearest village while the point of embarkation for Long Island is just up the road at Colla. Coney has no permanent resident and is privately owned, but Long Island has 15 to 20 people depending on the time of year and a regular ferry service allowing visitors explore its irresistible charm.