Beatha Oileánach – Island Life Awaits
Make Cape Clear Island your home.
Have you ever dreamed of island life ‘Beatha Oileánach’, and what it might offer your family? This could be your opportunity to become part of a vibrant community in one of Ireland’s most special places.
Oileán Chléire / Cape Clear Island, Ireland’s southernmost Gaeltacht Island, is actively seeking new residents. With a small but dynamic year-round population of around 130 people, the community is eager to welcome more families to live, work, and help the island thrive.
As part of the Irish government’s 10-year strategy to support flourishing communities on offshore islands, Comharchumann Chléire Teo, the local community development organisation, is collaborating with homeowners to make two houses available for affordable long-term rental from August 2025. These homes are offered under the Croí Cónaithe housing grant, specifically to families with children of primary school age. Young families with competency in Irish will be considered favourably.
Comharchumann Chléire Teo has a long-standing commitment to preserving the viability of island living. Over the years, it has run campaigns to attract new families, sustain the local primary school, and protect the island’s unique way of life. In fact, our current manager, Kevin McCann, first moved to the island in the 1990s through one such initiative.
Cape Clear offers the perfect balance between seclusion and connection. The island is just a beautiful 45-minute ferry journey from Baltimore, West Cork, with two return sailings every day all year round, increasing to four in the summer months.
Despite its remote feel, Oileán Chléire boasts a range of services and amenities, including:
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A primary school with two dedicated teachers
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Local bus service (two electric buses)
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A public library
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Public health nurse
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A small grocery shop and café
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Two welcoming pubs
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An Irish summer college
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Online grocery ordering with delivery from Fields of Skibbereen SuperValu three days a week
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Recycling and waste collection
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Fuel delivery
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Postal services
Employment and business opportunities are varied, spanning tourism, hospitality, farming, fishing and horticulture. The island also has a gTEIC digital hub with reliable broadband, perfect for remote or hybrid working, and generally good 4G coverage.
If you and your family are eager to live closer to nature, contribute to a resilient island community, and experience the unique magic of life on Oileán Chléire, we would love to hear from you.
For further information, please contact:
bainisteoir1ccteo@gmail.com
