Fahamore
Encyclopedia
Fahamore is a small hamlet/village on the Maharees
peninsula in County Kerry
. It consists of about 50 houses and one famous pub Spillane's . Fahamore was historically much larger than it is now as evidenced by two old schoolhouses in the village, one dating from 1843 and the other from 1911. Fahamore is located on the shore of Brandon Bay and is a centre for diving
, surfing
, windsurfing
and sea bass
fishing.
Fahamore is also a centre for currach
(or Naomhóg) building in the home of master currach builder Monty O'Leary. Currachs are still used as both fishing boats and trawler tenders in Fahamore at the local fishing harbour located on Scraggane Bay. Fahamore hosts a currach racing regatta every July where teams from the western seaboard of Ireland (from Kerry to Galway) compete in the All-Ireland Currach racing series.
The Night of the Big Wind
- local oral histories tell of a night in 1839 when there was a particularly bad storm.
A three masted sailing ship, the Charger, carrying a cargo of deal , was wrecked in Carralougha in 1890 - the remains of the ship's boilers are still in evidence on the rocks near Fahamore at low tide.
A sea wall was built, probably in the 19th century, to prevent coastal erosion - it had limited success, as it now lies in pieces about 20m from the cliff edge - in the 1990s rock armour was put in place by Kerry County Council
to protect the coast from Fahamore southwards for a distance of about two kilometers.
A comprehensive list of local placenames and their origins is contained in the book "Triocha Cead Corca Dhuibhne" by An Seabhac.
The real meaning of Fahamore is the 'Big Green' i.e. a reference to the big open green area in front of Spillane's bar.
or crayfish, spider crab
, edible crab
, and Atlantic salmon
(Salmo salar). In the winter there is a managed fishery in Tralee Bay for the European oyster (Ostrea edulis).
Fishing methods include pots and tangle nets for crabs, lobsters and crayfish and monofilament drift nets for salmon. Shellfish are typically stored in large wooden "storeboxes", which are moored in Scraggane Bay, until the day of selling, when they are transferred to "vivier" trucks for live export to Spain and France.
Local birds include seabirds (several species of seagull, shags, cormorants, gannets to name but a few), larks, starlings, curlews, crows, ravens, garden birds such as sparrows, robins and finches, and wading birds such as the heron. The swallow is a frequent visitor in the summer months.
Marine mammals including seals and dolphins are frequently seen.
Fish include sea bass, mullet, pollack, wrasse, dogfish, sea trout, flounder, plaice and ray.
Shellfish found in the intertidal zone at Fahamore include mussels, limpets, periwinkles and whelks, as well as several species of crab, including shore, velvet and hermit.
Lugworms are found extensively in the sand and their casts may be seen at low tide. They are frequently dug by local anglers and used as bait for bass fishing.
Seaweeds include kelp, several varieties of wrack (including bladder and serrated), dilisc (or dulse), agar, sea grass, sea lettuce and carrageen moss.
Maharees
Maharees or Magharees is a 5 km long ayre located on the northern side of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. Fenit Harbour, the main port of County Kerry is sheltered from large Atlantic swells by the Maharees...
peninsula in County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
. It consists of about 50 houses and one famous pub Spillane's . Fahamore was historically much larger than it is now as evidenced by two old schoolhouses in the village, one dating from 1843 and the other from 1911. Fahamore is located on the shore of Brandon Bay and is a centre for diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
, surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
, windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
and sea bass
European seabass
The European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, also known as Morone labrax, is a primarily ocean-going fish that sometimes enters brackish and fresh waters. It is also known as the sea dace...
fishing.
Fahamore is also a centre for currach
Currach
A Currach is a type of Irish boat with a wooden frame, over which animal skins or hides were once stretched, though now canvas is more usual. It is sometimes anglicised as "Curragh". The construction and design of the currach is unique to the west coasts of Ireland and Scotland, with variations in...
(or Naomhóg) building in the home of master currach builder Monty O'Leary. Currachs are still used as both fishing boats and trawler tenders in Fahamore at the local fishing harbour located on Scraggane Bay. Fahamore hosts a currach racing regatta every July where teams from the western seaboard of Ireland (from Kerry to Galway) compete in the All-Ireland Currach racing series.
History
The cliff face at Fahamore has extensive evidence of prehistoric settlement in the form of shell middens - a survey of the middens can be found in the book "Archaeological Survey of the Dingle Peninsula" .The Night of the Big Wind
Night of the Big Wind
The Night of the Big Wind was a severe European windstorm which swept without warning across Ireland on the night of January 6 - January 7, 1839, causing severe damage to property and several hundred deaths; 20% to 25% of houses in north Dublin were damaged or destroyed, and 42 ships were wrecked...
- local oral histories tell of a night in 1839 when there was a particularly bad storm.
A three masted sailing ship, the Charger, carrying a cargo of deal , was wrecked in Carralougha in 1890 - the remains of the ship's boilers are still in evidence on the rocks near Fahamore at low tide.
A sea wall was built, probably in the 19th century, to prevent coastal erosion - it had limited success, as it now lies in pieces about 20m from the cliff edge - in the 1990s rock armour was put in place by Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Kerry in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of Mayor...
to protect the coast from Fahamore southwards for a distance of about two kilometers.
A comprehensive list of local placenames and their origins is contained in the book "Triocha Cead Corca Dhuibhne" by An Seabhac.
The real meaning of Fahamore is the 'Big Green' i.e. a reference to the big open green area in front of Spillane's bar.
Geography
Villages near Fahamore (i.e. on the Maharees peninsula) include Cutteen, Garrywilliam, Barr na Duiche, Ceann Duiche and Kilshanig. Access to the beach at Brandon Bay is via the Point Gap and Maherabeg Cut.Fishing
The pier at Fahamore (situated on the western side of Scraggane Bay) is used extensively during the summer months by the local fishing fleet, which consists of around 20 half-decked and decked boats in the range 7–15 metres. Species fished include the European lobster (Homarus gammarus), spiny lobsterSpiny lobster
Spiny lobsters, also known as langouste or rock lobsters, are a family of about 45 species of achelate crustaceans, in the Decapoda Reptantia...
or crayfish, spider crab
Maja squinado
Maja squinado is a species of migratory crab found in the north-east Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea.-Diet:M...
, edible crab
Edible crab
Cancer pagurus, commonly known as the edible crab or brown crab, is a species of crab found in the North Sea, North Atlantic Ocean and perhaps in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a robust crab of a reddish-brown colour, having an oval carapace with a characteristic "pie crust" edge and black tips to...
, and Atlantic salmon
Atlantic salmon
The Atlantic salmon is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
(Salmo salar). In the winter there is a managed fishery in Tralee Bay for the European oyster (Ostrea edulis).
Fishing methods include pots and tangle nets for crabs, lobsters and crayfish and monofilament drift nets for salmon. Shellfish are typically stored in large wooden "storeboxes", which are moored in Scraggane Bay, until the day of selling, when they are transferred to "vivier" trucks for live export to Spain and France.
Agriculture
The fields around Fahamore are extensively cultivated with vegetables including carrots, parsnips, swedes and onions, which thrive in the sandy soil. There has is also some dairying activity and raising of cattle for beef.Tourism
Tourism is a major contributor to the local economy, through holiday home rentals, pubs and restaurants, surfing, windsurfing, scuba diving, walking and sea angling.Aquaculture
The "fish pond" at Kilshanig, which was originally intended to store lobsters, is now used as an abalone farm.Flora and fauna
Rabbits abound around Fahamore, as do rats, mice and the odd fox and badger.Local birds include seabirds (several species of seagull, shags, cormorants, gannets to name but a few), larks, starlings, curlews, crows, ravens, garden birds such as sparrows, robins and finches, and wading birds such as the heron. The swallow is a frequent visitor in the summer months.
Marine mammals including seals and dolphins are frequently seen.
Fish include sea bass, mullet, pollack, wrasse, dogfish, sea trout, flounder, plaice and ray.
Shellfish found in the intertidal zone at Fahamore include mussels, limpets, periwinkles and whelks, as well as several species of crab, including shore, velvet and hermit.
Lugworms are found extensively in the sand and their casts may be seen at low tide. They are frequently dug by local anglers and used as bait for bass fishing.
Seaweeds include kelp, several varieties of wrack (including bladder and serrated), dilisc (or dulse), agar, sea grass, sea lettuce and carrageen moss.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
External links
- Fahamore weather conditions (courtesy of Rik's Windsurfing) http://www.rikswindsurfing.com/stations/riks/currentconditions.htm