TAKE a look at the Irish cable car that’s the only one in Europe that crosses the open sea in Europe – and it’s just three hours from the capital.
Dursey Island is a part of the Beara Way walking trail – and has only a few permanent residents.
Dursey Island is a part of the Beara Way walking trail[/caption]
You can take in the sights by walking or cycling the Dursey Island Loop[/caption]
Ireland’s only cable car runs at about 250m above the sea and can carry up to six passengers at a time[/caption]
The popular west Cork island is known for its glorious views of the mountain ranges and colourful villages off the Beara Peninsula.
Tourism Ireland took to social media to show its followers the breathtaking experience of travelling the Dursey Island Cable.
They wrote on TikTok: “This is the Dursey Island Cable Car: the only one in Ireland, and the only one in Europe that crosses open sea.
“It connects the Beara Peninsula in County Cork to Dursey Island; a remote, windswept place of stone walls, grazing cows and just a handful of residents.
“Even the island postman takes the cable car to do his rounds – because when your delivery route involves flying over the ocean, you know you’ve got one of the most dramatic commutes in Ireland.
“Equal parts peaceful and exhilarating, this ride is a must-do on your Wild Atlantic Way adventure.
“Save this post to add Dursey Island to your bucket list.”
ISLE BE THERE
Dursey Island is just 6.5km long and 1.5km wide – and the most south-westerly island off the Irish coast.
The tiny island used to have hundreds of residents across three villages – Ballynagallagh, Kilmichael and Tilickafinna – but that’s dropped over the years to just a handful of full-time residents, as well as farmers and a few holiday home owners.
The island is a birdwatcher’s paradise with a nesting colony of seabirds, including rare species from Siberia and America.
And there’s plenty of history to soak up on Dursey, with a Signal Tower on the highest point of the island that was built over 200 years ago during the Napoleonic Wars.
There are ruins at the church of Kilmichael – said to have been founded by monks from Skellig Rock – as well as O’Sullivan Beare’s castle, from where islanders were thrown into the sea by English soldiers back in 1602.
You can take in the sights by walking or cycling the Dursey Island Loop.
But a stay on the island will take you back in time, as there’s no shops, pubs, restaurants or wifi.
So visitors are advised to stock up and bring food and water for any summer trips.
RIDE ON
Ireland’s only cable car runs at about 250m above the sea and can carry up to six passengers at a time.
The journey to the island takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
When it reopens in the coming weeks, it leaves the mainland from Ballaghboy on the tip of the Beara peninsula with several daily services across to Dursey.
The cable car – which first opened back in 1969 – is the only cable car that traverses open seawater in all of Europe.
Adult tickets are as low as €10 per adult, and children under 16 can take the tour for as cheap as €5.
And children under three do not need a ticket and get to enjoy Dursey Island free of charge.
The popular west Cork island is known for its glorious views of the mountain ranges and colourful villages off the Beara Peninsula[/caption]
