kilmacabea_rowing_club.jpg "Marine Gallery")
Glandore is a pretty coastal village located in the South West of Cork, Ireland. It is located one hours drive from Cork Airport. The village and surrounding sea areas of Union Hall , Castletownshend, Leap and Rosscarbery are steeped in history. Towns like Skibbereen and Clonakilty are only about 15 mins drive away.
The area is most well known for the Drombeg Stone Circle which dates back about 6000 years and is just 25 minutes walk from the village (3km). This archaeological site traces back through the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages. The 17 magnificent standing stones and fulacht fiadh have the stunning back drop of Glandore’s rolling countryside. If traveling from Leap/Union Hall direction you will pass the Marine Hotel & Self Catering Homes , go through the village past St. Facthna’s Church and take a right. From Rosscarbery take the R597 to Glandore. As you are passing over Roury Bridge make sure you get a peak at Coppinger’s Court 17th Century Elizabethan House.
It is one of the earlier settlements in the area due to its location. In 1215, the Normans built two castles here. Although now privately owned you can see these from the calm waters of Glandore Bay if you happen to be out sailing or swimming. You don’t need to take to the water to catch a glimpse though as you can see them from land as well. From Glandore Pier area where the Marine Apart-Hotel & Self Catering Homes are located you will be able to view both.
The entrance to Glandore Harbour is guarded, as it were, by two little rocky islands, Adam and Eve. The advice to sailors navigating in the Harbour is "Avoid Adam and Hug Eve", - a lesson first taught, no doubt, by sad experience on Adam's reefs and shoals. Glandore is to the starboard as you enter the bay and the well-known fishing village of Union Hall is to the port side.
In Irish Mythology, legend has it that the shore is haunted by Cliona’s Wave (Tonn Chlíodhna). The goddess of love and beauty left the otherworldly island of Tir Tairngire ("the land of promise") to be with her mortal lover, Ciabhán. Tragically the young lover was drowned by a wave when she was lulled to sleep by fairy music as she waited for Ciabhán hunting in the close by woods.
No matter what you are looking for in Glandore there is always something to do.
