Islands of Ireland: Dick's Island and link to Parnell's push 

The significant role the island off Schull played in the fight for the protection of tenants

Dick’s Island, Toormore Harbour, Schull, Co Cork. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

At first glance this seemingly inconsequential island in Toormore Harbour to the west of schull in West Cork is exactly that. From the shore, it appears as just another one of several islets or reefs that could not have attracted anything of any measure. Well, it did in fact.

In the major upheaval for the protection of tenants and the hand-in-glove agitation for independence in the final decade of the 19th century led by Charles Stewart Parnell, Dick’s Island was to play a significant role. The island hosted a major meeting of political leaders, tenant farmers and their supporters on this weather-beaten scrap of land.