January

2025 started in predictable fashion with a return to wearing facemasks following a sharp rise in flu and COVID cases after the Christmas festivities, but the season of goodwill brought good community stories too such as how people in Skibbereen and Bantry helped save a Christmas getaway for a Kildare couple stranded with a flat tyre on Christmas Eve.

Rachel Denise from Nurney had been whisked away by her partner Conor for a surprise romantic getaway to Cottages for Couples, but they got a flat tyre just outside Drimoleague, and discovered they had no spare.

Everyone from breakdown assistance to the kindness of staff at Skibbereen Tyre Centre, and a taxi driver who brought them to ​the Bantry Tyre Centre on St Stephen’s Day​, all helped them to get their holiday back on track.

There was a lot less Christmas and New Year cheer ​when a burst water main led to low pressure and serious supply disruptions to about 70 properties in the Shannonvale area on Christmas Eve.

Over 90 homes in the Glengarriff area were left without water during Christmas after a water mains pipe broke on the N71.         

Meanwhile, Storm Éowyn, a powerful and record-breaking extratropical cyclone which hit Ireland, bringing with it snow in many parts, flooding, water outages and dangerous road conditions.

There were other weather events too after heavy rain caused widespread flooding, especially in parts of Belgooly and Kinsale​, and council crews across West Cork spent the week treating priority routes.

Cork County Council’s fire service and operational crews attended lots of related incidents, such as the trucks that got into difficulty on regional roads in West Cork, including an artic lorry that got stuck at Cousane.

And for those isolated or stranded due to the severe cold, Cork West Civil Defence volunteers were out in force during the week delivering meals, groceries, and medical supplies.

The Christmas Day Swim from The Abbey Beach, Bantry organised by Bantry Rowing Club. (Photo: Margaret Hubbard)

Details of drink and drug driving statistics for West Cork made for less positive ​reading at the end of January because the figures were up on 2024 numbers.

​A garda spokesperson ​said 69 motorists were arrested in Cork North and West, ​the two districts that were amalgamated last year, for driving while intoxicated during the Christmas period and up to January 7th. There were also 201 speeding detections, along with 65 detections for using a mobile phone when driving, during the same timeframe.

Last year there were five fatalities on roads in the former Cork West division, up from four in 2023. ​ Figures also showed that there was a 16% increase in arrests for driving while intoxicated, with 263 motorists arrested, compared to 227 arrested in 2023.

The Southern Star carried an interesting page one piece in January about an Irish expert and author on UFOs, which said there had been an increase in the activity of unidentified flying objects worldwide – with one of the main entry points into Earth’s atmosphere located in West Cork.

Carl Nally of UFO and Paranormal Research Ireland (UPRI) said: ‘What is noticeable is the sheer amount of sightings and that they all seem to be happening at the same time.’

He ruled out drones and said some researchers are working on the theory that the UFOs are conducting surveys and monitoring Earth along ‘global tracks​,’ ​which is where UFOs ​are thought to enter and exit the atmosphere, including one over West Cork.

A sad farewell was paid to The Southern Star’s longest serving correspondent, John Sexton of Courtmacsherry, who died on January 13th.

In life he was a man who devoted his life to his family, farming and writing.​ John was an award-winning actor and producer with Kilmeen Drama Group, dairy and tillage farmer, writer and local historian, board member of Barryroe Co-op for 44 years, officer with Barryroe GAA, and the local Bol Cumann branch, community activist, the driving force behind the revival of the Courtmacsherry Strand Races.

West Cork got its first Fianna Fáil minister in almost 21 years after Cork South West TD Christopher O’Sullivan was appointed a junior minister at the Department of Housing with special responsibility for nature, heritage and biodiversity on January 29th.

His Cork North West colleague, Michael Moynihan, was appointed a junior minister for special education and inclusion at the Department of Education, while Cork South Central Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer was appointed to the Department of Transport and Rural and Community Development.

February

On February 1st​, West Cork student Lavie Olupona from Clonakilty, and Sarah O’Sullivan from the city, launched a limited edition of their first ever publication, a magazine called Bláithí, which is the Irish word for little flower.

Lavie, a social science student at UCC, and Sarah, an English student, founded Bláithí last November with the intention of giving emerging young artists, writers and photographers a platform.

The 12-page magazine featured the work of 10 contributors, some of whom are from West Cork and the proceeds from the sale were donated to Cork Penny Dinners.

Lavie was previously featured in The Southern Star for having read her poem Let Our Voices Be Heard in the Dáil in 2022.

February 1st​, St Brigid’s Day and the beginning of spring, was marked in a different way in Ballydehob as part of its first ever Match & Catch matchmaking festival for people looking for love. It was a great success and likely to become one of the regular festivals in Ballydehob’s busy social calendar.

Singer and songwriter, Passage West’s Cian Ducrot became the first Cork artist to win a Grammy after winning for co-writing SZA’s smash hit Saturn. He attended the prestige awards ceremony in LA on February 2nd and picked up the award for Best R&B Song, claiming it to be ‘a big win for Irish song writing.’

Incidentally, Ballineen songwriter Bill Maybury wrote two of the songs on Cian’s chart-topping album.

In February, Cork County Council confirmed that a €670,000 programme of works saw the completion of a portal on Wolfe Tone Square in Bantry and 22 other smaller stainless-steel signs around the town as part of the Destination Towns Programme.

Former Cork South West Fianna Fáil TD, Margaret Murphy O’Mahony gained a seat in Seanad Éireann in February, as did former Sinn Féin general election candidate in Cork North West, Nicole Ryan, while Fine Gael’s Eileen Lynch also gained a seat in the upper house.

February 7th saw the introduction of new speed limits for local roads with speeds being reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h. About 30 locations across Cork county, mostly of which are located in North Cork, are exempt from the new reduced speed for local roads because they met certain engineering criteria. None are in the West Cork Municipal District, but there is one, the L-3201, in the Bandon Kinsale Municipal District that will remain at 80km/h.

Former Fine Gael councillor, Noel O’Donovan, was given a political lifeline that very same day, February 7th, by the Taoiseach, who named him as one of his 11 nominees for the Seanad. There was disappointment, however, that his party colleague, former Sen Tim Lombard, did not succeed in being elected to the agricultural panel, and was not named as a nominee.

DEDE in Baltimore not only retained its two Michelin-star status for the third year in a row in February – its sister restaurant Baba’de has earned its first Bib Gourmand after just five months in business.

Turkish chef Ahmet Dede and his business partner Maria Archer have the distinction of being the owners of the only two restaurants in Ireland to achieve that feat. Ireland still has no three-Michelin-starred restaurants, but who knows, maybe Ahmet will rise to the challenge.

Fire crews from Schull and Bantry were called to a major fire in Barleycove that required not only a ground team but a helicopter crew from the National Parks and Wildlife Service to bring under control.

Crews were called out five times over three days – the first time being a small gorse fire at the foot of Mount Gabriel in Schull on Saturday. But from 6pm on Sunday onwards and into Monday, the crews were called out three times to deal with a blaze high on the hill overlooking Crookhaven, which is a special area of conservation.

The perennial problem of West Cork’s road was addressed in February, when it was announced that €82m would be spent on improving 104 regional and local roads in Cork county in 2025, but local councillors claimed it was not enough to repair the rapidly deteriorating road network.

The figure included a €1.6m allocation for the realignment of the R595 at Old Court between Skibbereen to Baltimore that is progressing at a rapid rate.

Other specific improvement grants included €500,000 for the realignment of a series of bad bends at the Ilen Bridge between Drimoleague and Bantry; €500,000 for Archdeacon Duggan Bridge in Kinsale; and €100,000 for realignment works at Adrigole.

March

In March, it was reported that the new owners of the former Mercy Convent in Schull, philanthropists Bill and Judy Bollinger, and its tenants Fastnet Film Festival, were progressing with a multi-million-euro redevelopment that would further cement West Cork’s reputation as a premier destination for filmmakers.

The Bollingers had previously gifted the former AIB building in Schull to the festival committee and it served as their headquarters for the past few years.

The original plan was to develop the centre and cinema at the former bank building on Main Street in the village, but the former convent clearly provided far more scope for development, according to the festival’s communications and programme manager Hilary McCarthy.

A Southern Star story about a Scottish man who bemoaned a government decision to impound three tins of haggis destined for his Burns Night celebration went global.

Not since the great Brexit sausage debate in Northern Ireland had a meat-related story garnered so much press coverage.

Retired vet Ian (93) and his wife Jeannie (76) found themselves being visited by a British news agency photographer to record the story of their ‘imprisoned’ haggis pudding.

Jeannie and Ian Stretch at their home in Bantry, replicting the low point that was a Burns Night celebration without their Scottish national dish, Haggis.
Photo: Joseph Walshe/SWNS.

The story gathered legs after the retired vet complained that his efforts to import the tins were foiled and the produce was labelled ‘dog food’.

There was a follow-up report in which the department of agriculture clarified that the reference meant detection by a ‘sniffer dog,’ and was in no way intended as an insult to Scotland’s national dish.

The department’s spokesperson clarified that any meat product which does not go through the correct controls is automatically impounded and destroyed.

Public money totalling almost €36,500 was spent by Cork County Council on sending delegations to America as part of the annual St Patrick’s Day trip across the Atlantic.

Flights for the trip cost €17,189.40, while hotels cost €19,216.28. The then county mayor, Cllr Joe Carroll (FF) represented Cork as part of a 13-day trip to Chicago and New York, and was joined by other councillors and council staff for high-level engagements.

Later in the month, there was good news for West Cork Distillers when Cork County Council granted the company permission to retain some existing expansion works, and change the use of its planned visitor centre to a distillery, as well as granting planning permission for additional construction work.

The council granted planning permission for the construction of a new 60 tonne gas tank to replace the existing 30 tonne gas tank, a grain intake building, two 40-ft containers for water treatment, two new heating and power plants and a new work- shop building, all at the company’s base of operations at the Fastnet Industrial Estate at Marsh Road in Skibbereen.

After almost 33 years at the helm of Ceramicx in Ballydehob, Frank Wilson stepped down from his role as managing director.

The success of the award-winning company – which started in 1992 in an industrial unit in Schull before relocating to Gortnagrough on the outskirts of Ballydehob – is well documented.

So, too, was the decision of the Swedish multinational, Backer, which is part of the NIBE Group, to acquire the company in 2023, with Frank remaining on as managing director until the age of 66.

The company’s stand-out success is the heating device for ice road truckers. With LED light fixtures not giving off sufficient heat to deglaze a lens, this infrared company came up with the technology required to work at temperatures of 40-degrees below.

Tributes were paid following the passing of Matt Murphy, who was the co-founder of the Sherkin Island Marine Station with his late wife Eileen.

Matt was in his 90th year when he died, peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family. His death drew tributes from far and wide as people the world over recalled their youth and summers spent at the Outdoor Pursuits Centre, as it was once known.

From organising international meetings to publishing many scientific reports and public awareness articles, and all the countless hours spent inspiring all who met him, Matt stands as an example of the extraordinary power of a right-minded person with boundless energy, overriding common sense, and great powers of persuasion.

A new €8m endoscopy unit at Bantry General Hospital was finalised and made operational in the first quarter of the year.

The team at Bantry General Hospital described it as a significant development. The facility includes procedure rooms, a recovery room and a reception area.

April 

One lucky player got a bit of good news in April after a Quick Pick ticket in the Daily Million National Lottery game was sold at Healy’s SuperValu in Dunmanway.

There was lots of speculation locally about who won the €1,000,000 after contact, confirming the win, was made with The National Lottery.

It’s not the first time that the shop, run by Andrew and Martina Healy, sold a winning ticket, having also sold a EuroMillions €1m ticket in 2022.

Former Bantry firefighter Ian Vickery was named Best First Aid Training Provider in Munster. Ian, who served 22 years on the job in Bantry, as well as serving as station officer, turned his skills into a new enterprise when he established his company, Ian Vickery Safety Training, in 2022.

Bantry man, Ian Vickery, has been named Best First Aid Training Provider in Munster.

Sinéad Crowley was presented with the 2025 Clonakilty Mayoral Council Hall of Fame Award at a special ceremony in O’Donovan’s Hotel.

The then mayor, Eileen Sheppard, described the award as being very special because it is only given out once a year to someone who goes ‘over and above’ for their community.

The beginning of Sinéad’s volunteering work took her to Africa with the Construction Volunteer Programme and this led to her work with the GAA, Darkness into Light, Penny Dinners, Clonakilty Community Resource Centre​ and all the local projects that she is involved in.

 Judge Joanne Carroll was assigned the role of the new judge to preside over District Court Number 18, which meant she became the first ever female judge to preside over West Cork’s district courts.

Judge Carroll presides over the district courts in Bandon, Clonakilty, Bantry, Skibbereen and Macroom​, following the retirement of Judge James McNulty, who served as district court judge in West Cork for 19 years.

 There was lots of interest in the discovery of the remains of the motorbike that led Michael Collins’ convoy on the day that he was shot, thanks to 25 years of research by Tim Crowley.

Tim, who owns and runs the Michael Collins Centre Museum at Castleview on the out-skirts of Clonakilty, described it as ‘a major find’ in the Collins’ story, as well as being an exciting addition to his already hugely impressive collection.

 Market traders in Glengarriff continued to turn up to an open-air market in Glengarriff in April despite a request from the owner of the site asking them to leave.

The traders said they were uncertain of their position​, following the signing of an agreement between the owner of the car park​and Cork County Council ​at a special sitting of Bantry court at the end of March.

More than 3,000 people signed an online petition established by the market traders requesting that they be allowed to continue to operate in Glengarriff​.

 There was a grisly discovery when a human skull was found during gardening works in Eyeries. Preliminary indications from garda sources suggested there may be ‘nothing suspicious’ about the human remains that was found in a SuperValu bag​.

The adult skull, which had no teeth, was sent to Dublin for examination and DNA analysis. It was then sent to Northern Ireland, where The Royal Irish Academy and Queen’s University Belfast collaborated to offer radiocarbon dating services. The mystery of how the skull ended up in a garden landscape in Beara has yet to be resolved.

April marked the end of an era for Skibbereen’s historic post office which, after 200 years trading, closed with all of its services relocating to its new base of operations at Drinagh’s Eurospar at Market Street.

Postmaster David Jennings hosted three former postmasters, Gerard O’Brien, Adrian Healy and Mike Walsh, as well as lots of previous An Post staff, as people came to the building for one last look.

Anne Horan from Ballineen, was named as the newly elected president of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation in April.

Anne, who now resides in County Limerick, is the daughter of Kathleen and the late and well-known Gda Frank Burke, who was a motorcycle garda for many years in Ballineen.

She began her teaching career in the one-teacher school of Dunmanus National School in Toormore in Schull in 1980, and was always interested in the INTO.

May

The issue of alleged anti-social behaviour in Glengarriff was raised at a council meeting with a claim that some business owners in the village were threatening to withhold the payment of rates to Cork County Council unless something was done about the issue. One councillor said he had been in contact with several residents who were afraid to go out walking in the evening due to anti-social behaviour.

Determined parents of school-going children in Bantry said they were taking their fight to get a school bus service to Schull to the steps of Dáil Eireann. Helen O’Neill said there were 29 students enrolled at Schull Community College who live in the Bantry area and there would be another 11 joining them in September.

There was disappointment in Bandon when it was confirmed that construction work on St Michael’s Residential and Community Project on Weir Street had paused because the contractor involved had been put into receivership. Those behind the project said it was very disappointing as they had 70% of the project complete and they would now need to re-tender for the project again.

The unexpected hot spell in May saw councillors calling on Cork County Council to bring forward the beach lifeguard season, after eight swimmers had a lucky escape at Inchydoney Beach. It was only down to the heroic actions of five people who narrowly averted what could have been a desperate tragedy at the start of the summer. The five concerned were honoured later in the year at the Water Safety Ireland annual awards.

There was a large turnout in Bandon for a public meeting over a planned casino/amusement arcade in the town. Former gambling addict Adrian Lenihan gave a poignant account of the devastation and misery it can cause. Leeside Leisure Centre Ltd had been seeking planning permission for the development on the ground floor of the former Stables Bar on Oliver Plunkett Street. An online petition had already garnered over 1,400 signatures in opposition to the plans.

There were calls for a pedestrian crossing and urgent traffic calming measures in Goleen to be implemented after a toddler came within a hair’s breadth of being knocked down. Chris O’Callaghan recalled seeing his three-year-old son Tommy step onto the roadway and a couple shouted a warning to the oncoming motorist. Locals also set up a petition on change.org which was attracting a lot of signatures all over the village.

Meanwhile, there was shock in Bandon when it was suddenly announced that SwiftDoc Bandon was closing at the end of the month. They blamed ‘ongoing difficulties’ in securing staff and doctors, while 3,000 patients would find it difficult to register with other medical practices in the town.

West Cork had its own connections to the newly elected Pope Leo XIV when Glengarriff native Fr Brian O’Sullivan, an Augustinian priest based in Rome, spoke about his relationship with the new pope. He said the newly-elected pope is a man who is ‘able for the job.’

Banty Post Office was on the move as they closed the door for the last time on the William Street premises. There was an atmosphere of bittersweet nostalgia and a deep appreciation for the staff and the building.

Staying with Bantry, the first of many meetings for ‘Save Our Spratt’ was held and those attending expressed concerns that Bantry Bay is being robbed of is marine diversity.

Meanwhile, Dr Jason van der Velde, a consultant in emergency medicine with West Cork Rapid Response (WCRR), embarked on an eight-day, 121km run along the Beara Way from Dursey to Gougane Barra to highlight the work of WCRR and also education children and adults on the importance of rural safety and community first aid.

There was disappointment for whale watchers after Colin Barnes, who operated Cork Whale Watch for the past 25 years, announced the closure of his popular whale watching business. He claimed that the overfishing of sprats by trawlers in West Cork water had led to whale moving away from the area as they had nothing to prey upon.

June

Kinsale residents expressed their astonishment in June that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine had granted a Woodstown Bay Shellfish Ltd an aquaculture licence for a mussel farm on a 23-hectare site at the Dock Beach and James Fort.

A public meeting was attended by hundreds of people, while late in the month a peaceful flotilla against the mussel farm took place in the harbour.

Ballingeary locals urged those in charge of Coláiste na Mumhan, which provides Irish language residential courses for teenagers during the summer, to let the people of the village take charge and run the college themselves. It was announced that the college, which is the country’s oldest Irish summer college, would not open for the summer season.

Union Hall residents, who have been campaigning for the restoration of the old Keelbeg Pier in Union Hall, said a meeting with Cork County Council officials was the most productive they have had to date.

There were plenty of celebrations in Courtmacsherry as the village celebrated 200 years since the first lifeboat was stationed there in 1825. Taoiseach Micheál Martin unveiled a commemorative plaque and marked a special weekend of celebrations in the village.

The cost of the €3.5m extension to the Clare O’Leary Walk in Bandon, which was due to open in May but was delayed by two months, was described by Cllr Alan Coleman as ‘West Cork’s bike shed’ due to the spiralling cost of the project and the lengthy delays to finish it. He said the project began as a ‘modesty walkway’ to join up the existing walk, but once Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) took over it the project became ‘over-engineered’ and ‘over-spec’d.’

Film director Jim Sheridan defended his latest project about the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier and said he believed the late Ian Bailey was 100% innocent. His new drama ‘ReCreation’ put forward a version of events if the unresolved murder of the French film producer had gone before a jury in Ireland. The film prompted a backlash from Sophie’s family in France.

The difficulties with parking in Baltimore during the summer season was raised by Cllr Brendan McCarthy at a meeting in June. He pointed out that over 30 valuable car parking spaces were occupied by boats and trailers during one busy bank holiday weekend.

There was disappointment in Glengarriff when the owners of the hugely popular Ewe Experience announced that they would be closing the business in August. It was the country’s only interactive and interpretative sculpture garden and owners Kurt Lyndorf and Sheena Wood said it was time for them to explore new opportunities.

The condition of some graveyards across West Cork was raised by some councillors with one pointing out that some graves can only be accessed by walking on someone else’s final resting place. Cllr Joe Carroll called for an overhaul of the cemetery byelaws in order to provide dignity for the dead, access for the living and safety for ground staff.

The month also marked the 40th anniversary of the Air India disaster when on June 23rd 1985, Air India Flight 182 exploded of the south coast of Ireland killing all on board. The annual service took place in Ahakista and was organised by Cork County Council to remember all those who died tragically.

Plans by energy giant Enerco to erect 14 turbines in the hillside near Bantry met with local opposition. The turbines at 169m would be two and half times taller than the towering Elysian building in Cork city. Residents in Maughanaclea launched a ‘Stop the Spin’ campaign and started fundraised in order to commission independent expert reports on the farm’s potential impact on human health, wildlife, archaeology, heritage, landscape and tourism.

Meanwhile, 88-year-old Jennifer Marley, who faced eviction from her home in Bantry, expressed her delight that she had been able to secure alternative accommodation. Her plight had been raised in the Dáil by Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins.

In Skibbereen, long-term residents of Perrott House, who feared they were about to be relocated to Cork, received assurances from the HSE that this would not happen. Family members of loved one there said a move to St Stephen’s Psychiatric Hospital in Glanmire would be disorienting and distressing for their elderly relatives.

July

There was disappointment for market traders in Glengarriff after Cork County Council refused planning permission for the open-air food market in Quills’ car park. The company received planning for a €3m makeover of their premises but were refused planning for the market, which had formed part of the company’s application.

On a brighter note residents in Shannonvale, who endured three decades of raw sewage misery, were told that a new pumping station could solve their problem. They gave a cautious welcome to replace the septic tank with a new pumping station to connect with the Clonakilty waste water treatment facility.

Tributes were paid to Brother Kevin Crowley from Enniskeane who died at the age of 90. He founded the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin in 1969 and had retired in 2022 and moved back to Cork. Bishop Fintan Gavin said Brother Kevin was proud of his West Cork roots and was a man of deep prayer, while then President Michael D Higgins said he was a ‘warm, caring yet fearless man.’

There was outrage across West Cork when it emerged that Clonakilty, Skibbereen and Dunmanway were to have their CCTV systems switched off due to a disagreement between An Garda Síochána and Cork County Council over who controls the data.

Plans for the Cork to Kinsale Greenway were met with uncertainty by some residents in the Ballinhassig area after they received letters informing them that they could be forced to give up part of their land because it was located within a proposed route. Noreen Ring said she was ‘completely shocked’ when her elderly parents received a letter indicating that their lands could be subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). A public meeting was later held in Ballinhassig with many affected landowners saying they never received any communication about the proposed greenway. They said there no landowner consultation ever took place, which was meant to be Phase 2 of the controversial scheme.

The closure of the Aperee Nursing Home in Bantry was highlighted by councillors who sent a letter from the West Cork Municipal District to HIQA requesting that it re-open closed beds at the nursing home. Cllr Danny Collins pointed out that the nursing home had already passed its inspection and met the criteria required to have it re-opened.

A rally organised by Clonakilty Community Arts Centre (CCAC) was held in the town to highlight the fact that the town’s dedicated cultural hub needed to find a new home by the end of September. Having rented the current arts centre building at 2 Asna Square for the past 12 years they were informed that the landlady was selling the building.

The unseasonal good weather saw the gardaí make the unusual decision to issue a warning on social media that both Inchydoney and Warren beaches were out of bounds due to traffic congestion. Soaring temperatures saw thousands flocking to the West Cork coastline which meant the car parks at both beaches were full. There was further drama at Warren Beach when hundreds of bathers were directed to leave the water by lifeguards due to an incident involving a male.

Clonakilty lost one of its favourite sons when Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin passed away this month after a long illness. As a former town mayor and town councillor, Clonakilty and its people meant everything to him. He was also the Clonakilty notes correspondent for The Southern Star for over 30 years and always had his finger on the pulse on what was happening in his local community.

A Dunderrow couple sent out a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the army of volunteers who helped them rebuild their house following a devastating fire. Edel and Nicky O’Regan said they were overwhelmed when dozens of friends and neighbours arrived the next day to help clear the site. Over 60 volunteers turned up to help them.

There was disappointment for the team behind CECAS at Myross Wood House in Leap after they were informed that the property owners were not renewing their current lease for occupation of the building beyond July of next year.

August

There was an overwhelming outpouring of love and support for brave 13-year-old Féile O’Sullivan from Beara after both her legs were amputated following a farming accident. A GoFundMe page and a target of €350,000 was set to help with her ongoing treatment and specialised equipment and home adaptation which will be required in the months and years to come.

The ongoing problem of boil water notices in Macroom for over two years was highlighted by local TD Aindrias Moynihan who called on Uisce Éireann to put a plan in place to reduce the impact of boil water notices on local residents and businesses during construction of the new €6.5m water treatment plant.

Meanwhile, it was announced that a traffic study would be carried out in Clonakilty to assess delays on the N71 bypass and explore the possibility of a building an outer relief road.

The study supported by funding from the National Transport Authority (NTA) would be used to explore options for both short-term and long-term solutions to the rush hour gridlock.

Those providing self-catering options in West cork expressed concern over a proposed new register and regulations which were launched. Máire Ní Mhurchú, ceo of the Irish Self-Catering Federation said a national media campaign was the only way of letting the public know of the ‘impossible situation that they were placed in.
She said that the EU had mandated that every self-catering accommodation unit must have planning permission and must be listed on the register before May 2026.

Alcohol continued to be the leading substance for which individuals seek treatment in West Cork according to Coolmine Services. Alcohol abuse accounted for 77% of all presentations to the addiction treatment centre in Ahiohill, a rate which is 24% higher than the average for other Cork centres. Cocaine was next at 13%, followed by cannabis at 6% and benzodiazepines at 4%.

There was a first for Baltimore after the Noble Caledonia’s Island Sky became the first cruise ship to call to the harbour. Many of the ship’s 90 passengers transferred to Baltimore for walking tours as well as visiting Sherkin Island, while the ship’s 81 strong crew also found time to explore the seaside village.

Children participate in the World Championship Turnip Race in Ballydehob Summer Festival. Photo by Carlos Benlayo

More than 100 farmers and landowners held a meeting in Carrigaline over the proposed Cork to Kinsale Greenway and the fear that lands could be given up to facilitate the development.

A decision on a controversial casino/gaming arcade for Bandon was imminent. Leeside Leisure Centre Ltd has sought planning permissions for the development at the former Stables Bar on 1 Oliver Plunkett Street. Around 70 submissions were lodged from both individual and groups including the Bandon Methodist Church, Bandon Walled Town Committee and the Parents Association of Gaeilscoil Dhroichead na Banndan.

A retired garda from Clonakilty launched a website to help pet owners remember their loved pets long after they die. Mick Hanly set up Rest Easy Friend, which allows members of the website to create lasting online tributes to their animal companions through a digital memorial space which shares photos, stories, videos and condolences. He pointed out that pets are very much part of any family and it was important to remember them.

Bus Éireann was being urged to remove the cut off age of 70 for school bus drivers to ensure all children can get to school. Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’ Shea said he every year he received the same phone calls across his constituency about the shortage of bus drivers. He said there are many qualified bus drivers who are rules out under the School Transport Scheme because of their age who would be more than happy to keep driving.

Meanwhile, the sky was the limit for 85-year-old Mervyn Jeffers from Bandon after he took part in his first skydive while also raising money for two charities dear to him. He said skydiving was always on his bucket list of things to do and was more than surprised when his four adult children organised it for him to go to the Irish Parachute Club in Offaly.

Bandon was gearing up for a new school campus which will incorporate the local Gaeilscoil and Coláiste na Toirbhirte. The Catholic Education and Irish Schools Trust (Ceist) sought planning permission for the extension of the secondary school at Cloghmacsion and a new building for the relocated Gaeilscoil Dhroichead na Banndan on the same site.

September

School secretaries and caretakers took to the picket line in September as thousands of pupils returned to the classroom in September, in a dispute over pay and pensions. They were backed by school principals, and escalated their actions with protests outside government TDs’ offices.

The inaugural Savour the Flavour food festival in Skibbereen was declared a huge success as the organisers vowed to make it a regular on the calendar. John O’Driscoll, chairman of the Skibbereen and District Chamber of Commerce, said it would ‘definitely be back next year’.

The Lighthouse Loop on the Sheep’s Head was named as one of Ireland’s top 50 walks in a new book on rambling routes the length and breadth of the country.

NEWS 2/9/2025 Pictured at South Main street Bandon at a protest against the granting of planning permission for a Casino in the town. Picture Denis Boyle

There were calls for a new housing fund in memory of the late Gus Dempsey (77), who tragically died in July just weeks after speaking to this newspaper about being made homeless after a devastating fire at his home in Horsehill, Ballinadee in May.

And TV presenter Eilish O’Sullivan from Innishannon revealed a dedicated channel entitled Cork TV was set to be launched before the year end bringing all things Cork to a global audience.

The reverend who famously performed the marriage ceremony of David and Victoria Beckham at Luttrellstown Castle in July 1999, Reverend Dr Paul Colton, announced his decision to retire in 2026 after 27 years serving as Bishop of the Church of Ireland in Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

Alarming statistics revealed that the number of pub closures in Cork over the past two decades is 20 times higher than the rate in Dublin. The city and county has lost almost one in three watering holes since 2005, compared to just 2% in the capital.

Clonakilty Arts Centre was given a reprieve until February 2026, having been previously informed that it would have to find a new home before year end.

The RNLI extended its condolences to the family and friends of Italian national Lorenzo De Bonis (27), who died after getting into difficulty off the Baltimore coast. A student at UCC, he had been rock climbing near the Beacon when tragedy struck. A GoFundMe to help with his funeral costs was later set up and well supported.

There was a collective sigh of relief in Bandon after plans for a casino at the former Stables Bar were abandoned in the face of public opposition, despite the fact that Cork County Council granted planning permission. The future of the ex pub at Oliver Plunkett Street remains unclear.

Tributes flowed for West Cork Fianna Fáil Cllr Patrick Gerard Murphy who died unexpectedly at his home at the age of 46. The former Uhran footballer, of Ahabrook, Eyeries, Beara and Bantry, had served on Cork County Council since 2008 and as County Mayor in 2018. In 2019 he completed a remarkable feat, raising almost €20,000 via a parachute jump even though he’d been a wheelchair user since a car accident in 1993, aged just 21.

It was Groundhog Day as actor Bill Murray was back in town visiting his favourite haunts including The Good Dairy Company in Kinsale for ice cream.

Cork County Council took court action over the casual traders at Quill’s in Glengarriff, and a group opposed to plans for a multi-turbine wind farm near Bantry issued a sobering warning about outdated legislation and how it leaves West Cork exposed to plans for a ‘cluster’ of wind farms.

September ended on a sad note for parishes in Riverstick, Skibbereen and Castlehaven.

Dad-of-two Stephen McCarthy (45), a well-known and well-respected businessman, was killed in a motorcross practice day on the Vernon Mount Track.

Bernard Collins, a father of four and grandfather of seven, died in a single vehicle accident on his tractor on the road between Leap and Drinagh. A skilled footballer with Castlehaven GAA in his day, he was remembered for being part of the first club team to play in a Senior County Final in 1979.

A fire at Bantry Enterprise Centre, which gutted the council-run e-centre, was under investigation, while the State paid €800,000 to secure and preserve the 98-acre heritage site at White’s Marsh in Inchydoney.

There were renewed calls for development of the former convent site in Skibbereen, and county councillors backed objectors calling for a review of the controversial Cork to Kinsale greenway route.

October

The end of an era came for one of West Cork’s best-known estates as Liss Ard in Skibbereen confirmed the closure of its long-running hotel operation after more than 30 years.

In the future, the Georgian manor house and surrounding land is planning to host weddings and corporate events, following a transformation by its Californian owners, The Aspen Company. The move left hotel staff facing job losses.

Meanwhile, 14-year-old Jamie ‘Barack’ Nolan from Templemartin became the talk of the week after he met former US President Barack Obama for a second time during Obama’s visit to Dublin, having first met him as a baby in Moneygall in 2011. Obama congratulated the teen on his recent Fleadh success.

In environmental news, concerns were raised locally about the use of weedkiller in green spaces after a drum of herbicide was spotted near the entrance of Skibbereen’s historic Famine Graveyard and weedkiller was used at Bennett’s Mill Fields in Clonakilty. Concerned residents urged Cork County Council to review how green spaces are maintained to protect biodiversity.

A new Netflix drama, House of Guinness, turned attention to Bantry’s storied past. The eight-part series revisited the 19th-century lives of the Guinness family and their ties to Bantry House through Lady Olivia Hedges-White. The production, even though it was filmed elsewhere, brought into focus West Cork’s role in the Guinness saga.
There was change in the courts too, with the retirement of long-serving clerks Len MacCarthy in Clonakilty and Danno McSweeney in Bandon, both lauded for their decades of steady service.

Storm Amy battered the region in the middle of the month, bringing torrential rain and winds of up to 110mm over 12 hours. Bantry, which suffered repeated floods in recent years, was again badly hit. The Office of Public Works said its long-awaited flood relief scheme for the town would not begin until at least 2031.

Despite the storm, Gougane Barra saw a wedding proceed under extraordinary conditions as photographer John Sexton waded into knee-deep water, wearing refuse bags borrowed from a priest, to capture the couple’s big moment.

There were brighter celebrations elsewhere as Violet Dorney of Kinsale marked her 100th birthday surrounded by family at Kinsale Community Hospital. Born in 1925, Violet remained known locally for her love of music and dancing.
West Cork also had a visit from a TV crew as First Dates host Fred Sirieix toured the region for the filming of his ITV programme Tour de Fred, stopping in Clonakilty, Kinsale and Baltimore alongside his daughter, Olympic diver Andrea Sirieix.

In Glengarriff, Ronan Keating of Boyzone fame filmed an emotional BBC documentary at The Ewe Experience, reflecting on the life of his late brother Ciaran and the healing power of art.

On the environmental front, a year-long delay was announced in the appeal against a proposed mussel farm in Kinsale Harbour, with the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board promising a decision by October 2026.

October also brought infrastructure news, including an upgrade confirmed for Dunmanway’s wastewater plant by mid-2026, and a €772,000 allocation to redevelop Skibbereen’s historic Steam Mill into a Famine heritage centre.

Adventure came to Dursey Island when Colombian diver Orlando Duque performed a world-first 24-metre dive from the island’s cable car, calling the experience ‘something special’.
Tragedy struck offshore later in the month when twelve crew members were rescued after abandoning their sinking trawler southwest of Dursey Head. All were safely brought ashore to Castletownbere.

In Dunmanway, tributes poured in following the death of former Labour senator and county councillor Michael Calnan, who was remembered for his decades of public service.

Elsewhere, Cork County Council responded to a sinkhole near Timoleague by closing the affected road, while four men appeared in court following a €31m cocaine seizure off Courtmacsherry in July.
And maritime tradition met modern technology with the official naming of the RCC Cosaint in Kinsale Harbour, the Revenue Maritime Unit’s new vessel,  marking another chapter in the region’s marine history.

November

In early November, thirteen-year-old Féile O’Sullivan from Allihies continued her remarkable recovery after losing both legs in a farming accident in July. Surrounded by her family and loyal dog Beara, Féile’s move from Crumlin’s ICU to a general ward was celebrated across the region as the Stand-For-Féile campaign reached €707,000.

In healthcare, concern grew over gaps in the service after revelations that no ADHD assessments had been carried out in West Cork and Kerry for over a year, while a local rescue team condemned a hoax emergency call at the Old Head of Kinsale that triggered a full-scale response.

Again on the healthcare front, there were repeated warnings that Bandon faces a hospital bed crisis, with just 25 bed spaces for elderly compared with 108 in Clonakilty.

The critical shortage of beds was highlighted at a HSE South West Regional Forum meeting where Cllr Ann Bambury said older people were already feeling the impact of the bed shortage and the HSE needed to provide a clear plan of action to address this.
Rosscarbery shone once again, being crowned Ireland’s Tidiest Village for the second time, and missing out on the national title by just one point to Carrick on Shannon. Judges hailed the town’s school artwork and praised its colourful shopfronts.

But unease came from Skibbereen’s tourism operators, warning of major AirBnB closures under new short-term letting laws due in 2026.
In Ahiohill, therapists reported that alcohol remained the leading cause of addiction treatment, with 73% of those seeking help citing drink as their primary struggle. And homelessness figures painted a worrying picture: the number of people presenting to Cork County Council as homeless had quadrupled since 2019, and fewer rough sleepers secured housing than last year.

Despite such challenges, community spirit ran high. In Bandon, 18-year-old Kara McCarthy raised €6,000 for suicide bereavement charity HUGG by walking 180km, while local man Michael Brennan fasted for 72 hours in solidarity with children in Gaza, raising over €13,000.

And Innishannon native Aidan O’Callaghan revealed he was about to complete a historic hat-trick of UK soaps with an appearance on Coronation Street. His stint on the cobbles of Weatherfield came after a role in Eastenders and a brief time on Emmerdale.

Environmental concerns hit the headlines, too. Adrigole residents endured repeated water outages along the Healy Pass, while Amazon confirmed that its transatlantic Fastnet cable would not land in sensitive areas near Castlefreke.

Seven West Cork schools were included in a €90 million sustainability drive under the Climate Action works scheme.
Bantry suffered severe flooding twice in a matter of weeks, with councillors warning that Met Éireann’s yellow rainfall alerts failed to reflect the true scale of the deluge. An emergency humanitarian fund for affected residents was being sought.
The community also mourned deeply this winter. Tributes were paid to 59-year-old Ballinspittle native Stella Gallagher, tragically killed in a knife attack near her home, and to Alma Karanauskienė of Skibbereen, whose warmth and kindness were fondly remembered across the town.

On brighter notes, Courcey Rovers’ star defender Saoirse McCarthy collected her fourth PwC Camogie All-Star, and actor Aidan O’Callaghan made Irish TV history by joining Coronation Street after stints in EastEnders and Emmerdale.
In Clonakilty, four Red Cross volunteers were nominated for national awards, and a local woman raised funds for hurricane recovery efforts in Jamaica. After becoming the target of rustlers, a farmer near Skibbereen vowed to find the thieves who stole 18 of his cattle worth €30,000, and renewed calls were made to tackle road safety hazards caused by deer collisions.

Councillors rejected the draft Budget for 2026 insisting they could not go back to their constituents with a clear conscience if they voted for a rates increase. After a mammoth council meeting they settled on a compromise which did not include the proposed 3% rates hike.

November closed with the naming of West Cork Fit-Up Theatre founder Dr Geoff Gould named as November’s Cork Person of the Month, honouring 16 years of bringing professional theatre to rural parishes. He now goes forward with 11 other monthly winners and is shortlisted for Cork Person of the Year.

December

December started off on a bleak note with the news that a fish company in Skibbereen had closed with immediate effect and the loss of 30 jobs. Monica Buckley, co-owner and founder of The Fresh Fish Deli, said the regrettable decision to shut down the operation was due to rising operating costs and inconsistent fish supplies. Cllr Joe Carroll said the closure was down to ‘fishing policies’ at EU level which were ‘destroying the Irish fishing industry’.

The late Hugh Wallace was remembered fondly after his sudden death by Butlerstown couple Siobhán O’Mahony and Timmie O’Brien. The architect helped with the renovation of a former post office to their forever home and they said Hugh’s presence would stay with them.

Senator Noel O’Donovan laid the situation bare in the Seanad as he spoke about rats, leaks and dry rot at the Sacred Heart Secondary School in Clonakilty which is now in dire need of funding for building improvement works.

Staying with Clonakilty, more details emerged about plans for a 246-unit housing development at Clogheen. The €100million development secured outline planning permission and once building starts it will be the biggest housing development in the town to date.

Businesses in Bantry learned that the units gutted by fire in September will not be ready to re-open for two years – late 2027 at the earliest.

Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s family spoke of their determination to continue to fight for the truth as the 29th anniversary of her death approached on December 23rd. A memorial notice in this newspaper said they would honour her spirit and never give up in their bid for justice. The unsolved murder is now the subject of a cold case review with DNA testing using the latest forensic methods being carried out on the murder weapon, a rock.

Late Late Toy Show star Declan Ryan, from Belgooly, followed in his mother’s footsteps when he appeared on the TV special which was watched by 1.7million people. Declan, a golf fanatic, got a lovely surprise when his hero Shane Lowry sent him a video message and an invitation to the Ryder Cup.

St Vincent de Paul painted a bleak picture revealing that there had been a 20% increase in calls for help across the South West with 11,000 calls in Cork in 2025.

A retired fisherman was counting the cost of the damage to his house caused by what some weather experts described as a mini tornado. Paul Deasy (74) told how he was at home in Union Hall on Sunday night December 9th when a sudden, strong gust blew part of the ceiling down and ripped the roof off a garden shed.

In mid-December, a West Cork schoolgirl’s generosity reached across the world when 14-year-old Sophie O’Reilly donated her entire collection of plush toys to a Sri Lankan volunteer gathering supplies for flood relief. Within 72 hours, the toys had travelled 9,000km and were being distributed to children affected by the floods, with video footage confirming their arrival.

Tributes were paid to well-known Crookhaven publican Billy O’Sullivan, who died on December 15th at the age of 88. His granddaughter Alex O’Sullivan recorded a podcast recounting his life and his role in creating the bar famous for serving ‘the most southerly pint in Ireland.’ Family, friends, and members of the wider community maintained a six-week vigil at Bon Secours Hospital before his death.

A fundraiser for Féile O’Sullivan, who lost both legs in a farming accident, was confirmed as Ireland’s number one GoFundMe campaign of the year. The appeal, supported by family, friends, and local GAA clubs, raised over €773,000 to fund medical treatment, prosthetics, and rehabilitation. Féile has undergone more than 60 surgeries since the accident.

And in cultural life, Allihies Copper Mine Museum introduced new audio guides this year, supported by a €12,717 grant from The Heritage Council. Museum chairman Tadhg O’Sullivan said the project would improve accessibility and provide visitors with deeper insight into the area’s mining heritage.

After spending months in intensive care and battling through more than 60 surgeries brave Beara teenager Féile O’Sullivan got her Christmas wish as she was allowed to return home for the festivities. Accompanied by her mum Maureen, they got the mother of all welcomes as they arrived in Allihies on Tuesday December 23rd.

Maureen confided that the thing Féile was most looking forward to was ‘her granddad’s spuds of course!’ as they prepared to catch up with her family and many friends during her six-day stay before returning to Crumlin Children’s Hospital.