Crookhaven

The Irish name for Crookhaven is Cruachán, an attractive coastal village on the most south west tip of the island of Ireland. The English name is generally believed to derive from Sir Thomas Crooke, who is also associated with the English settlement in Baltimore in the early 1600’s.

The village has an interesting maritime history with many ships stopping to pick up provisions there for the long arduous journey across the Atlantic.

Guglielmo Marconi came to Crookhaven to transmit his first radio message across the Atlantic, he also fitted the first telegraphic equipment to the iconic Fastnet Rock Lighthouse in order to communicate with passing ships.

The coastal hamlet offers various amenities. St Brendan The Navigator, Church of Ireland is an imposing, old stone church perched high with stunning views, it is surrounded by an historical old graveyard.

For such a small place Crookhaven has three bars, all doing an amazing trade over the summer months. O’Sullivan’s Bar is steeped in history and enjoys a brisk trade all year round for good food and drink. It faces the attractive harbour and adjoining the bar is the village shop.

Nottages or The Welcome Inn is only opened over the summer. The name derives from an Englishman Nottage who came to live in the village and work at the Marconi signal station.

Finally The Crookhaven Inn, which is a lively and attractive bar with a strong restaurant trade over the summer months.

For those who like water sports The Crookhaven Harbour Sailing Club is also open over the summer months.

4 Summer SUP, stand up paddle boarding is open and highly recommended for enthusiasts.

The fantastic Barleycove Beach is only a short drive from Crookhaven, it is ideal for a walk or swim. In the summer Barleycove Beach Hotel is open for food and drink.

Top Tip:Take a trip to Brow Head, the most southerly point of mainland Ireland and drink in the spectacular views. Copper mining took place here and you can see the evidence of the old mines and miner’s houses. The ruins of an early 20^th century Marconi station are also on the headland. In 2016 Brow Head was used as a filming location for Star Wars:The Last Jedi.