Category Eleven – Islands and Coastal Communities
Winner: Courtmacsherry and the Seven Heads Peninsula, Co Cork

Summary:
Courtmacsherry and the Seven Heads Peninsula is a small rural community located on the south coast. The development committee in an attempt to maintain the population and remaining business in the village has organised a large number of local festivals. The committee works in the community to generate activities to bring people into the village. The community was not included in the initial Wild Atlantic Way but has campaigned tirelessly to have the area included either in the official route or in the loop off the route. When the last shop in the village closed the local community set up a co-op shop to serve the needs of the community. The shop has been operating for a number of years now and is a unique development in the county.

Community Contact: Aileen Walsh, [email protected]

Citation:

The day of the judges’ visit, arranged so incredibly well, started with one of the strongest, best structured, and visual story of a community that the judges have witnessed. The walk through the village and the boat trip only served to enhance the judges’ positive view of the place. Stand out features of the visit included, the work of the RNLI volunteer, the remarkable reach of the village’s history, the pride in its local GAA star and the fantastic community shop run by volunteers. Surely the best accolade a community can hear is when the judges declare that they cannot wait to return to this stunningly beautiful coastal village and stay awhile.

Runners Up: Greencastle, Co Donegal.