LOOPHEADCLAREIRELAND

Marine & Seashore Activities

Dolphin Watching

Without doubt dolphin-watching must be one of the most pleasant of sea-based activities and without doubt Carrigaholt must be the best place to see these charming animals. Everyday during the summer dolphin watching boat leaves Carrigaholt pier. The Mouth of the Shannon is home to about 140 Bottlenose Dolphins, thousands of pelagic seabirds, nesting sites, grey seals, rare coastal birds and herds of wild goats. Dolphinwatch Carrigaholt offers 2-hour boat trips to experience this diverse natural heritage. The focus of the trips is to watch and learn about the dolphins, following a strict code of practice to ensure the dolphins’ well-being, while also learning about the inter-relationships of this eco-system (a designated SAC). Dolphinwatch works with local schools by providing free dolphin and nature boat trips, seashore workshops, and in-school talks to help promote an interest in the environment tourism.
www.dolphinwatch.ie

Scuba Diving

The coastline of the Loophead Peninsula is a natural base for diving. Kilkee has a dedicated diving centre fully equipped and professionally manned by highly qualified diving instructors. The keen amateur will already be aware of this centre because the great Jacques Cousteau declared that it was the best diving spot in Europe. The Kilkee Dive Centre is a fully-equipped SCUBA diving centre which caters to both beginners and experts. Divers can go to depths from 10 metres (32 feet) to 45 metres (147 feet). The diverse marine life attracts divers from around the world. For beginners there is a trial dive in the shallow waters of Kilkee Bay to introduce them to the exciting underwater world.
www.oceanlife.ie
www.kilkeesubaquaclub.com

Sea Angling

Surrounded by so much water it is not surprising that fishing is a major attraction. Sea angling with very experience skipper on a specially constructed fishing boat is by far the best way to engage in this sport. In Carrigaholt there is such a boat and crew available. Carrigaholt is an ideal harbour to go fishing from. Being in an estuary it is possible to go fishing in all weather conditions. In strong winds trips go east from the pier and get fishing in the sheltered waters of the Shannon estuary where you can expect your catch to include Ray, Conger, Bass, Dogfish and Tope. When you can get out to Loop head at the end of the peninsula you are starting to get into the best fishing grounds to be found in Europe. Here it has been known to catch over twenty different species in one days fishing and some crews have landed up to five hundred kilos of whitefish for a days fishing! These fish include Cod, Pollock, Saith, Ling, Haddock, Whiting, Hake, Spur dog, Ray and of course lots of Mackerel, which in turn can be used as bait for among others Blue Shark and large Skate.
www.fishandstay.com

Shore Fishing

Being located on a peninsula gives access to a wide variety of fishing venues and species and allows fishing in all weather. The choice of fishing type and fish is amazing including rock platforms that shelve in to deep water, gentle sandy beaches, wild Atlantic storm beaches, sheltered estuaries and quiet harbour piers. The main species to be caught are; bass, mackerel, Pollock, flounder, mullet, coalfish, ling, ray and many more. To find the best fishing spots a guide is very useful. Don’t forget that waters edge and cliff edge are dangerous places for the uninitiated. Try this website...
www.chillwithbill.com

Birdwatching

Loophead Peninsula is a special place for wild fowl. The Loophead headland, near the lighthouse, is the end of major flyways of birds migrating south for the winter from North America, Greenland, Iceland and the Arctic. In summertime the long coastline provides safe breeding and wintering grounds for a large number of birds from Europe and Africa. Some of the species to be seen are Common Yellowthroat, Canada Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, Dark-eyed Junco, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and from the east, Rock Thrush and Yellow-browed Warbler. The Shannon estuary supports the largest numbers of wintering wildfowl in Ireland (over 50,000 were counted in a census in 1995/1996). These include whooper swan, brent goose, golden plover, greylag goose, teal, mallard, curlew, snipe and many more. Tullaher Bog which is a designated National Heritage Area is also a haven for the birdwatcher and Greenland goose and hen harrier are some of the protected species.

At the Bridges of Ross (approximately seven miles from the lighthouse) migrating seabirds pass each autumn on migration and the bridges provide an excellent viewing point for Shearwaters, Petrels, Terns, and Skuas. Many species rare to Irish waters can be observed in suitable conditions, indeed the first Irish records of two species, Swinhoe’s Petrel and Sooty Tern, occurred here. To find out more visit these websites.
www.birdwatchireland.ie
www.clarebirdwatching.com

Geology

Geology does not seem a subject to arouse interest in many people but because of the special conditions along the Atlantic coast of the Loophead Peninsula everybody can have an interest. The rocks formations can be seen in two ways. Firstly, on land either walking or driving from the ossified trees in Goleen bay to the preserved sand volcanoes in Ross bay. Between these points are exposed carboniferous sedimentary basin shale (over 340 million years old) that comes in amazing shapes caused by slipping, folding and other geological movements. This is why the Loophead area has become very popular for geological study, teaching and research.

The second way, and the more spectacular, is to view these geological formations along the cliffs by boat excursion. This is not only a geology experience but when combined with dolphin watching and birdwatching along the seaward side of Loophead makes a great day out. Fortunately, in Carrigaholt, on the Dolphinwatching boat both Sue and Geoff Mc Gee are very knowledgeable on all aspects of the biodiversity and natural history of Loophead.
www.dolphinwatch.ie

Walking

The loop in Loophead makes for very interesting walks No matter from where you start you can have a circular walk either as long or as short as you like. The spectacular scenery of the Atlantic and Shannon river coastlines have to be seen to be appreciated. Cycling is another healthy way of seeing this area. The less active can drive the loop circuit of the peninsula.

Watersports

Surrounded by water, it is obvious that Loophead is a mecca for watersports. NEVSAIL is situated on the beach front next to the life guard hut, where they provide Training Courses in Sailing, Windsurfing, Powerboating, Kayaking, Canoeing,Surfing, and much much more, for all ages, from beginners to the more advanced.

Currach Racing

Currachs, the traditional canoe, of the Loophead peninsula were used in times past for fishing and for transport. The skills associated with the use of these boats had all but died out but now a new generation of young people are being taught the skills of building, rowing and handling these boats. Now currach regattas are held every year in Carrigaholt, Kilbaha and Kilkee. see dates under FESTIVALS

Thalassotherapy

Towards the end of the 18th century people starting coming to Loophead, especially Kilkee, to ‘take the waters’ so the seaside became a popular place for relaxation and recuperation. Thalassotherapy centres give clients the benefits, indoors, of seawater baths, seaweed wraps and marine spa treatments. For further information visit.