Cape Clear Hostel Fireplace

Well we finally made a start on installing a multi-fuel stove in the hostel lounge yesterday. The building dates back to the 17th century but the fireplace in the picture below was installed sometime in the 20th century. Our plan was simply to remove the old fireplace and increase the opening size to take the stove.

Finbarr Master Masonic

Before removal

We were delighted when we discovered the original dry stone fireplace replete with a large natural stone lintel hiding behind the modern fireplace.

Halla Glas   - The Green Hall.

Halla Glas - before refurbishment

The Halla Glas might look like a land-based version of the Mary Celeste as it haughtily stands overlooking the south harbour; a shell of a being with it eyes poked out; a sad looking creature crying out from its unseeing eyes for its missing children; a veritable wreck of a building with its gas lighting still in place, some bench seats scattered about as if in a storm, holes in the hugely rusty, corrugated metal clad roof, mice scrabbling about for whatever morsels have been left by the mysteriously missing crew. 

Mary Celeste at the time of her discovery - sails removed

Halla Glas -  roofing panels removed

1861 painting of the Amazon later renamed the Mary Celeste

The Halla Glas, a faintly green coloured building, known as the Green Hall to those without the Irish, has history. It was originally a farmhouse with a thatched roof and appears on maps dating back hundreds of years. In recent times it was used by the island community as a library, a school, a judo hall, a dance hall and God alone only knows what else.

It is also used every year by the swallows returning from South Africa.  A small flock of them spend the season from April to September flying in and out of the holes which pass for windows. We look forward to seeing them each year and welcome them as they reduce the level of flying insects which prey on us poor gardeners. We always take time to sit and marvel at their flight and at their conversations when they twitter to each other high up on the power lines  - what will they do next year when the newly installed windows bar their way to their usual home?

Saturday 25th September.

Reports of upwards of 100 dolphins sporting in the waters and following the ferry on the journey to Cape.

Week commencing 14th June was a brilliant time for Basking Sharks here in the South Harbour of Cape Clear Island. 

These wonderful creatures could be seen from the gardens of the hostel and from the roads and cliffs around South Harbour.

Yesterday, 20th June,  was especially magical with the majestic creatures swimming in circles close to shore.

There are also reports of a breaching Orca near the east end of the island, and pods of Dolphins being watched from the ferry to and from Cape. Some hostel guests who went on the whale watching trip this week, reported great views of Sunfish and more Basking Sharks. 

One of the hostel guests took an excellent video of the sharks and has promised to email it to us - it will appear here as soon as it arrives.

Here’s hoping that it all continues apace for the rest of the year.

Mackerel arrive South Harbour, Cape Clear Island, 24 May 2010

A shoal of mackerel were seen to make the sea 'boil' with their frantic feeding around 9am this morning.

Basking sharks arrive in South Harbour, Cape Clear Island, 24 May 2010

They were sighted at 2.45pm. They usually stay around for a couple of weeks. This year is a little earlier than the last few years.

Minke Whales spotted from ferry to Cape 19th May 2010.

Well it was not nearly as clear a view as the dolphins in the famous photograph published in the Examiner last year. The whales were a little way from the ferry but their backs and fins could be clearly seen.

We hope that visitors and islanders will keep us appraised of any further sightings during the year.

Basking Sharks near North Harbour of Cape Clear Sunday 16th May 2010.

We are pleased to report that the Basking Sharks are back. What appeared to be a mother and her young were seen feeding a little way before the opening to the harbour. A real treat for the visitors arriving on the ferry.

Basking sharks have appeared in the south harbour in June and July over the last few years.

Irish Language Students:

June 3rd/4th sees the arrival of around 180 Irish students to the two Irish Language Colleges on Cape Clear. They spend three weeks here at a time being immersed in the Irish Language. It certainly brings a summer feeling with the brightly coloured clothes that they all wear these days and with the laughter and joy as they all go swimming in the South Harbour for the first time.