Today is a Big Day on Clare Island. It’s the start of the May Bank Holiday weekend and the island is officially open for the summer season!
Starting today, the Sailor’s Bar & Restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. The summer ferry schedule is now operational with alot more crossings between the island and Roonagh Harbour available every day. We’re kick-starting the season with our Girl Power weekend, including the Pirate Queen Adventure Race.
If you’ve been following us on Facebook you’ll know that this weekend is the Festival of the Pirate Queen, which is taking place in the greater Clew Bay area – a celebration of our historic association with the legendary Grace O’Malley (or Grainnuaile as she’s more commonly known beyond her native region). Believed to have been born, married and buried on the island, we thought it was fitting to mark the festival with a weekend that would honour female empowerment. So, in addition to the adventure race (which is also open to men), we have yoga and breathwork classes, a showing of a documentary on the life of Grace O’Malley as well as an inspiring talk by her descendant Ellen O’Malley Dunlop, ex-Chieftan of the O’Malley clan and a powerful woman in her own right who has held high profile CEO positions including the National Women’s Council of Ireland.
So even if you’re not up for the physical challenge of the adventure race, there’s still plenty of interest happening on the island this weekend. That includes an after-party in the Sailor’s Bar with live Bluegrass to get the place hopping. All welcome!
On Sunday morning, have a gentle start with a guided walk of the island where you’ll be introduced to alot of the flora and fauna that we’re also famed for.
For full details on all that’s happening, click here. We hope to see you at some stage, but whatever you get up to, be sure to have a thoroughly lovely May Bank Holiday! 🙂