The rugged Beara Peninsula, located in South West Ireland, pokes out like a finger into the treacherous waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. At the extreme end of the peninsula is Dursey Island which was today's Bazflyer journey.
This formally in-habituated island is separated from the mainland by treacherous waters making access by small boat a perilous undertaking even in calm weather. After strenuous lobbying by the local parish priest, a cable car was built in 1969. Unique in Ireland, it unfortunately failed to stem depopulation. Today Dursey is the haunt of ornithologists and walkers, a place where old field patterns are largely undisturbed and the wildlife is protected.
The tenacity of folk who once lived in this rugged and remote corner of Ireland can perhaps be best illustrated by a heroic sea rescue carried out by Dursey Island men in a row boat. In November 1881 a huge storm destroyed the lighthouse on nearby Calf Rock leaving six keepers marooned and exposed to the fearsome elements. After several failed attempts to rescue the men by British gunboats seven brave fishermen set out from Dursey to save the men. Battling high winds and raging seas they brought all the men to safety.
The rescuers were subsequently honoured for their bravery and seamanship at a ceremony in London. News of the rescue even reached New Zealand some 3-months later. Here is the report as printed in the Marlborough Express:
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=MEX18820213.2.15
The cable car to Dursey Island is behind Mrs Bazflyer who is well protected from the elements
The remote and picturesque Beara Peninsula
Small colourful town along the road to Dursey
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