Bask in the glistening water of Bantry Bay, on the Atlantic south-west coast of Ireland, as seen from Sheeps Head.

Na Gaorthaí

The name for this spot in the Irish language is Na Gaorthaí.

According to the 'Historical Report by Placename (2005)', Na Gaorthaí is understood to mean garden or woodland. The modern Irish word for garden is garraí, which bears a resemblance.

Source: Logainm.ie ("Placenames dot IE").

Our favourite, Teanglann.ie, defines gaorthadh as a (Wooded) river-valley or river-bed.

As a point of reference, there is a village in Cork north from Bantry that in Irish is Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh, rendered in English as Ballingeary.

Geography

Gerahies lies on the north shore of the Sheeps Head penninsula - Rinn Mhuintir Bháire - 12 kilometers west by south-west from Wolfe Tone Square in Bantry town. The shore along the penninsula consists of rocky cliffs and pebbled strands.

As low mountain ridges run the length of Sheeps Head penninsula, the area generally has a north-facing yin aspect. However, the undulating pattern of the land on a grand scale, with stone ridges and troughs running from east by north-east to west by south-west, cause some pieces of land to have south-facing, yang aspect. Furthermore, these south facing locations are largely protected from the Atlantic winds, which by-in-large come in from the west.

Further information: Townlands.ie.

History

1911 Irish Census lists 130 individuals, some having familiar surnames, such as Daly, Dricoll, Griffin, Shea, and Sullivan. Also listed are some names that might be unfailiar to those who know the West of Ireland, such as Bohan, Hosford, and Kingston

Source: The National Archives of Ireland

The National Built Heritage Service lists one heratige farm house built 1810-1820. This is perhaps the oldest verified dwelling in the townland.

Source: National Built Heritage Service.

Ancient!

Flora

Trees, but also iola lactea (pale dog violet), and Tuberaria guttata (spotted rock-rose).

Fauna

Birds, namely choughs and fulmars.

Industry

Fish!

Points of Interest

Waterfalls and fishing spots.

Literary References

"Sheep's Head features as a central location in David Mitchell's 2014 novel The Bone Clocks, being referenced throughout and providing the setting for the book's final section. A character in that section, Mo Muntervary (also a main character in Mitchell's debut novel Ghostwritten), takes her surname from the headland."

Source: Wikipedia.