Garinish Island Glengarriff
Italian gardens Garnish Island
Garnish Island is a small Island Garden located in Glengarriff Harbour in Bantry Bay. The Island was bought from the British War office by the Bryce family in 1910 and transformed into an amazing garden by Anna Bryce and the renowned garden designer Harold Peto.
Ferry’s run to Garnish Island from Glengarriff regularly and it’s a trip well worth making. The ferry trip includes a visit to the very tame seal colony in the harbour followed by disembarking on the island itself. The island was donated to the state and is now run by the OPW and it is a credit to the gardeners. The microclimate created by the unusual conditions of the Gulf Stream, the sheltered nature of Glengarriff Harbour and the tree belt planted over a hundred years ago allow a wonderful diversity of rare exotic species to thrive.
Note the entrance fee to the island is separate to the Ferry charge.
Garnish Island – Telephone No: +353 27 63040
Using the Wind
A high quality robust and low maintenance wind turbine designed by an Irish Company! We caught up with Quentin Gargan who gave us an update on his latest venure manufacturing wind turbines in Ireland. The company Turbotricity.com is now in production and has a robust 6 blade design that produces 2.5 kwh. Quentin is very passionate about renewable energy and is the first to say that Wind power is not for everyone. With the right site and space wind power can be a viable source of renewable power. But you need the right ingredients and the starting point is to educate yourself on the pros and cons. To this end he has made his renowned lecture series on alternative energy available online. This wind energy lecture series is free and you can view it at http://turbotricity.com/training
Domestic Wind Turbines
There are a number of wind turbines on the market that fall into the domestic capacity i.e. 1-10KW range. These seem to be either very expensive or not very well made. The guys over at Turbotricity have a new blog and are currently designing a new 2.5 KW domestic wind turbine to address the shortfall in the marketplace – worth having a look at to see how it pans out…
Whale Watch West Cork
Whale Watching
Dr Nic Slocum, operates WHALE WATCH WEST CORK from Reen Pier just outside Union Hall in West Cork. Nic is a passionate conservationist, environmentalist and well-known local writer and lecturer on marine conservation issues. Nic has a purpose-designed and built catamaran, Voyager.
Each tour is educational with informed on-board commentary and discussion with the focus on conseravation of all marine species and habitats.
Whale Watch West Cork operates to a very strict, self-imposed Code of Conduct when approaching all cetaceans so as not to harrass them or to cause unnecessary disturbance. As a result, he may not get as close to the animals as other whale watchers nor spend us much time in their presence.
Luxury Self Catering West Cork
Glengarriff Lodge in West Cork is the place to go if you are looking for Luxury Self Catering in West Cork with an environmentally aware policies. The owner Alan Callender is committed to creating an environmentally sustainable business in West Cork.
The Lodge is on a 50 Acre estate in Glengarriff – one of Ireland’s most beautiful woodlands. The lodge has been tastefully restored to create a luxury hideaway. It’s a real fairytale setting – I would highly recommend Glengarriff Lodge.
Visit the website – www.glengarriff-lodge.com
Organico in Bantry is the ideal spot to shop for organic wines and self catering supplies…
Linda Field’s Jewellery
Linda Field has launched a new range of jewellery. The Healing Angles are designed around the concept of the healing power of crystals and stones. Her new website is under construction and is coming soon at Angel Jewellery. Linda is based in Ireland, and hopes that her Angels will have a wide appeal for women who are looking for a stylish way of wearing a beautiful healing stone. The Angels are made of solid silver with conflict free stones.
Yoga Bantry
If you are looking for Yoga in the Bantry area I would recommend the Boab Centre , which has one of the most amazing Yoga studios I’ve ever seen – it’s an Eco-Studio which looks like the most amazing Tolkien-esque structure from the outside complete with grass roof and amazing woodwork. However, it’s the studio itself inside that really impresses – Eco builder Bas Paul, has created an amazing space for Yoga. The studio is oval with an incredible view out over the valley and a really calm safe atmosphere.
The Boab Centre runs Yoga classes for all levels of yoga student. I would highly recommend their teachers, mind you it’s difficult to get a place as they usually have a waiting list. So if you are interested in some really good yoga tuition you should send them a mail or give them a call.
Boab Centre
Maughanaclea
Kealkil, Bantry
boabcentre@eircom.net
+353-(0)2766282
Yoga online
Esther Ekhart has launched a new website for Yoga called Yogatic.com .
It’s an exciting resource for Yoga online with a Yoga Dictionary, Yoga Poses and Yoga Video.
If you need help with your Yoga and are looking for a useful no nonsense online resource this looks like it’s going to be a winner, Esther is an amazing Yoga teacher with years of experience and Yogatic! is a space worth watching…
Sailing West Cork
I had an amazing sailing experience last weekend! I booked a place on the schooner Anna M out of Sherkin with skipper Joe Aston (Sailing West Cork) Joe is a very experienced seaman but is also a keen environmentalist and is a mine of information on all things maritime (as well as being a charming host).
The day was stunning – amazing sunshine and a lovely little breeze. We sailed down to the Fastnet and then out to sea, were joined by a school of common dolphins who frolicked about the bow for half an hour and then we had a delicious lunch prepared by Joe. The lunch was fresh shrimp sandwiches (made with shrimps caught that morning – wow! the taste was amazing).
I would highly recommend a trip on the Anna M – and if you need somewhere to stay Joe offers B&B on Sherkin Island. Joe is very passionate about sustainable living and his business is very eco aware as a result. Check his website www.gannetsway.com
Eco News
So we’re live! Eco Ireland is a directory of wonderful Eco things to do, places to go and places to eat with a focus on ecological responsibility. Please contact us with any information or reviews of ecologically minded business in Ireland and we will investigate it…
