Cape Clear Island Projects Group
Registered Charity
RCN 20206780
CHY 23237
Our Projects
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The conservation of the Ard Casta is a big project that we are undertaking.
This boat is unique around the coast of Ireland. One of a series of ‘Ard’ boats (59′ footers) built by BIM in the late 1950’s to modernise the Irish fishing fleet, the Ard Casta was fishing until relatively recently.
This boat employed up to seven people at a time with a big economic impact on Cape. The side-trawling style of fishing is not practiced anymore.
We want to get her out of the water for repair and make her and her history accessible to people interested in the marine heritage of Oileán Chléire.
It is a big project and we would appreciate any donations possible to help us leverage more funding to cover the lift-out, boatyard work and storage costs.
Go raibh maith agaibh!
Environment & Biodiversity
The Gug - Anaerobic Biodigester
The first biodigester on an Irish offshore island. the Gug anaerobic biodigester (supplied by myGug.eu) creates a solution from the problem of food waste.
The biogas produced is stored in a 3000litre gasbag and then flows in to the nearby commercial kitchen for use at community events. We also provide a stove top, pressuriser and gas in 1000 litre bags to community members for use domestically. For this they make a donation to the charity.
The biofertiliser produced is provided free to the community.
We are delighted that this project was largely funded by Cork County Council under their ‘Climate Change Action Plan’.
We were delighted to recently launch the Gug with Cllr Noel O’Donovan in attendance deputising for the Mayor. A demonstration of the process of adding suitable food to the Gug was followed by a community chat with tea, soup and scones – cooked using the biogas! Everyone was given a caddy to facilitate their collecting of food waste.
The Gug is attended by a volunteer to facilitate food being ‘fed’ to the Gug every Mon/Weds/Fri/Sat 15.00 to 15.30
We welcome any other communities who would like to get in touch to find out more about this.
Freshwater Ponds
Created to increase freshwater biodiversity on Cape these ponds have been a dramatic success. We were guided by Dr Oliver and won a Heritage Award for this project. A further pond is planned for the west of the island. Freshwater flora and fauna information and illustrations is available at each pond thanks to Dr Oliver and Zoe.
The ponds will feature in an upcoming book about the concept of the Hares Corner, with text by Catherine Cleary of Pocket Forests.
CBAP - Community Biodiversity Action Plan
The CBAP is a first stage of biodiversity surveying which will begin in late Spring 2025. Once that baseline information is collected then actions based on that can be agreed in conjunction with the farmers involved.
We are thrilled that we have been granted funding by Community Foundation Ireland to get a Community Biodiversity Action Plan underway! Thank you to the farmers involved and best of luck to the ecologists in their work!
A little piece here on the announcement with the Minister of State, Christopher O’Sullivan.
Community Foundation Ireland – Biodiversity Partnerships Announced
Southern Star Article with our trustee Mary O’Driscoll and farmer Mary Leonard here
To launch the CBAP and to have a discussion around Biodiversity in general we organised a one day conference on 12th April with great speakers who are familiar with Cape. Topics ranged from rat eradication to the hidden glories of cowdung to the variety and wonder of marine ecological samples from South Harbour. Our poster here: 
Next year is being discussed already!
A complementary part of the food waste management Gug project, the community garden will have a large polytunnel with ‘allotment’ types spaces to facilitate a vegetable / herb growing space for members of the community. The biofertiliser available free from the adjacent Gug can be used on the garden and items not suitable for the Gug can be composted in the garden and used to maintain healthy soil.
The land for the community garden has been leased on a long term basis from the owners. This provides security and certainty to this project.
*20 Sept 2024 We are so shocked at the recent death of Steve. He was a humorous, gentle person who loved the natural world and enjoyed sharing that love with others – especially children*.
His book, which he published himself, is to be translated and re-published in Irish. It introduces the most common birds in a scientifically correct and fun way to enable children explore Cape and learn at the same time.
The newest walk is the Yellow marked walk up the New Line, Bóthar na Gorta Móra (the Famine Road). This is a beautiful walk which usefully bypasses the very steep Leaca Mhór and rewards with great views south and around past the Fastnet Lighthouse towards the Mizen Head.
The maps show the location of all the walks and have QR codes to give extra information that you can take with you on your walk. Note any instructions regarding dogs and difficulty of the walk.
A new wood chipper was purchased and is used to convert willow cuttings and hedge trimmings into mulch which is freely available for the community. A small hire fee is charged which is used to cover necessary maintenance of the machine. Hire agreement form available here.
Culture & Heritage
Geansaí Chléire
A recreation of a unique geansaí worn by Cape fishermen. The geansaí was knitted by local women and one geansaí given to a boy as he started his fishing life. Uniques elements showing it’s importance and usability include extra armpit gusset to allow overhead work and sleeves that were knitted from the shoulder down. This facilitated easy mending by unravelling from the wrist up.
An island knitter has reverse engineered the pattern and facilitated a reconstruction of the geansaí. We have trademarked the pattern and will protect and show this unique heritage item that belongs to Cape.
Ionad Mara - Pat Con Photo Collection
Pat Con is a retired local fisherman. He has collected nearly 200 photographs of boats and fishermen connected to Cape from the turn of the 20th century. These photos are displayed locally. We have recorded information from Pat Con about each photograph and are about to start a project of digitising the collection so that it will be available to everyone.
Ard Casta Fishing Boat
The Ard Casta is probably one of the most photographed boats on the coast. One of series of BIM funded boats in the late 50’s she was a side trawler fished by three men. In order to preserve her, now that she no longer fishes we are developing a plan where she will be lifted out onto the hard and be made accessible for viewing.
Historic Walks & Talks
Talk by William Casey
Rev Edward Spring in 1840s Cape Clear Is
Link here
Walk – Kilcoe & Roaringwater Bay
Tograí Chléire
CHY 20206780
