Boat Cottage Crafts

BOAT COTTAGE CRAFTS Tel: ‘353’ (0)86 877 6488
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boat-Cottage-Crafts/205081542872486?ref=hl

How we started and what we do:
People who enjoyed our guided lake cruise or just stopped for a cup of tea at the Boat Cottage Café to relax overlooking the beautiful views asked us if we sold any souvenirs.
The answer was that we didn’t. So this year I looked into ‘Irish Gifts’ but I was disappointed to discover that most ‘Irish’ souvenirs are made overseas, especially in China or imported from England. So we went about creating our own hand-made ‘Irish’ souvenirs.
We started with ceramic replicas of the Boat Cottage in small, medium and large and then included a hay stack or water barrel or bench to some cottages. Each is individually made and painted by hand by us.
Then we made ceramic models of St. Finbarr’s Oratory, Gougane Barra, Co. Cork which was built in 1902. Gougane has been a place of spiritual and religious worship for hundreds of years. Gougane Barra is one of my favourite places in the world and with over 400 people from all over Ireland and the world getting married there each year, and hundreds of thousands visiting for pilgrimage, to do the ‘Round’, enjoy nature and walking or cycling in Ireland’s ‘First’ National Forestry Park, or enjoying a family picnic or a romantic stroll along Gougane Lake, Gougane Barra is obviously a favourite place for many other people. It’s no wonder our Gougane Barra Oratory ceramic has proven so popular.
We looked around to see what other great buildings were nearby and of course we saw castles. Carrignacurra Castle is just down the road from us in Inchigeelagh, County Cork. Carrignacurra Castle was built a little before 1500 to defend a ford across the River Lee. It replaced an earlier Ring Fort type structure which also housed the local (O'Leary) chieftain and his retainers. The name, Carrignacurra, probably comes from Carraig na Choradh - Rock of the Weir. There was an eel weir on the River Lee here in the 17th Century’. More detailed information on Carrignacurra Castle can be found at: http://2009.inchigeelagh.net/inchigeelagh/carraigacurra.php
One of my favourite Irish Castles is Carrigadrohid Castle because it is so unusual - it reminds me of a small, ruined ‘Château of Clemenceau’ (Loire Valley, France) as Carrigadrohid Castle is also built in a river - the River Lee. Charles Smith in his 1750 History of Cork states that the castle of Carrigadrohid, which is on the boundary between the dioceses of Cork and Cloyne, was built in the late 1400’s by a McCarthy and its romantic situation on a rock in the middle of the River Lee was chosen by his wife Sabina Ní Cearill (O'Carroll). Carrigadrohid Castle is approximately five miles east of the town of Macroom. The castle is joined to the river bank by a road bridge at second storey level which joins the eastern wall of the castle.

So at the moment our gift range includes ceramic cottages, Gougane Oratory, Carrignacurra Castle and Carrigadrohid Castle.

Boat Cottage Crafts Irish hand-made pottery cottages, castles and Gougane Barra Oratory at The Lakes Tour, Ballingeary, Cork

Hand-made ceramic Carrigadrohid Castle, Co. Cork, Ireland - Boat Cottage Crafts (Ballingeary, Co. Cork).

'Carrigadrohid Castle was built by Cormac McCarthy in 1455 and it is situated on a rock outcrop in the River Lee, approximately five miles east of the town of Macroom in Co. Cork, Ireland.

Carrigadrohid Castle, Carrigadrohid, Co. Cork.
Hand-made Ceramic Castle, Boat Cottage Crafts, Ballingeary, Co. Cork, Ireland.

Hand-made, Irish Ceramic Cottages.

The Wild Atlantic Way

The Wild Atlantic Way is set to be Ireland's first long distance tourist route which will stretch for about 1,400km from Donegal to West Cork.

Over the past three months we have examined a range of route options and now have a preferred route identified.

We need your input

Before the project can progress any further it is crucial that you have an opportunity to submit your views and ideas on the preferred route.

The route can currently be viewed on our website and at local tourist information offices in Cork City, Kinsale & Skibbereen.

We are holding a series of public exhibitions and consultation sessions in County Cork

Tuesday 20th November 2012

Trident Hotel, Kinsale 12.30pm – 3.30pm

Maritime Hotel, Bantry 6.00pm – 9.00pm

I would encourage you to come along to view the maps and discuss any ideas or opinions you have at this stage.

You can also find further information on the project on our website including details of all scheduled meetings and an update on the project at www.failteireland.ie/wildatlanticway.

All views and opinions will be taken fully into consideration before a final decision is made and should be received in writing by Friday 14th December.

Written submissions can be sent to:

Wild Atlantic Way Project, Fáilte Ireland, 88-95 Amiens Street, Dublin 1 or emailed to [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you there.

Regards, Jane D'Arcy
Administrative Assistant | Fáilte Ireland | Unit 2 Nessan House, Riverview Business Park | Bessboro Road |Blackrock| Cork

T: + 353 (0)21-423 3224 | M: 086-771 2868

W: www.failteireland.ie

Failte Ireland - Wild Atlantic Way | Public Consultation | Driving Route That the public consultation phase of the Wild Atlantic Way process is underway; the draft maps are here for the public to view; and the dates and locations for the public consultation sessions.