The name Glengarriff derives from the Irish "An Gleann Garbh" - the rugged glen, and you can see the aptness of the name all around. The wild beauty of the surrounding hills and wooded valleys running down to the placid waters of the harbour and Bantry Bay. The steep slopes of the Caha Mountains are on the doorstep, and the peak of the Sugarloaf Mountain, ideal for climbing, can be seen for miles around.

No visit to Glengarriff would be complete without a visit to the famed Garnish Island, a world-renowned garden island with a unique collection of lush, sub tropical plants, flowers and trees. Within the village itself, the Blue Pool amenity area and pleasant woodland with a network of paths is ideal for short strolls.

A short way along the Kenmare road is the main entrance to the State Forest and National Nature Reserve with its many paths, picnic areas and viewpoints. The Glengarriff woodland is of international importance, being the only sizeable remainder of the ancient forest that once covered all the hilly areas of West Cork.

Clan Name

Glengarriff is part of the ancestral home of the O'Sullivans in Ireland and forms a stage of the Beara-Breifne Greenway which is based on the historic march of O'Sullivan Beara in 1603.

Heritage Houses

For info on Bantry House in nearby town of Bantry click here

Greenways Festival 2003

Glengarriff is talking part in the Greenways Festival in summer 2003 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the legendary 1603 march of O’Sullivan Beara from the Beara Peninsula to the Breifne area. Click here for info on the events.