Protected sectors

What's the story here?

Turk Head is the southwest extremity of the Turk Head Penninsula and the north entrance point of the River Ilen. An anchorage may be taken here, off The Catalogues Islands situated about 400 metres south by southwest of the headland.

This is a fair-weather anchorage with good holding.

How to get in?

Offshore details are available in southwestern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Cork Harbour to Mizen Head . The anchorage lies in the mouth of the River Ilen which is approached between the south end of Hare Island and the northwest side of Sherkin Island or accessed via The Sound from Baltimore Harbour. Seaward approaches and run up the River Ilen are covered in the Oldcourt description.




The Baltimore North Entrance route provides a list of waypoints that assist pilotage through the entrance to River Ilen and likewise the path from the north end of Baltimore Harbour.




It is essential for vessels approaching from seaward to stand well off The Catalogues Islands when rounding in as dangerous rocks extend northwestward from them. Likewise, be aware of Mealbeg situated close off Turk Head. This is a double-headed rock with its outer head awash at low water. It is marked by the Mealbeg south cardinal buoy.



Anchor according to draft on the southern edge of the deepwater channel to the south of Turk’s Head just within the crescent formed by The Catalogues group.

Land at Turk Head pier situated on north the mainland side of the river to the northeast of Sandy Island.

Why visit here?

Turks Head most likely got its name from the 1631 Algerian pirate raid upon the village of Baltimore as it is believed the pirates moored here at the estuary of the Ilen.

From here, in the dead of night, they were led up the creek between Ringarogy and Spanish Island, by the eponymous John Hackett, to arrive unseen into the harbour opposite the village of Baltimore. They then sacked the village kidnapped most of the inhabitants and brought them off to the slave markets of Algiers.

The tiny channel, about 100 metres in length became known as Hackett’s Channel. Similarly, the phrase 'Carbery's Hundred Isles', that it overlooks, stems directly back to the Thomas Davis' 1844 narrative poem of raid 'The Sack of Baltimore'. The title was taken directly from the poems first scene-setting line 'The summer sun is falling soft on Carbery's hundred isles'. This is very much an instance of poetic license since there are no more than 50 islands in the archipelago.

The Catalogues name by contrast is derived from the Irish Na Ceirtleoga meaning little balls of yarn, or rags, that most likely reflects the group's diminutive stature. There are five small islets in the group that are remarkably rich in varied floras. All The Catalogues have a covering of healthy grassland, heather and gorse. There are many goats throughout the islands, but they cannot keep the growth in check.




Situated immediately to the east, but not included in The Catalogues island group, is the larger five-hectare Sandy Island, in Irish known as Oileán na Gaineamaha. Despite its name, the island has no sand but it is well worth landing on for a visit. On the island's east side are the remains of a rudimentary slipway will be found, and this leads up to an old 1960s style holiday home set in the middle of the island. There are wonderful walks around Turk Head that are accessible by landing at Turk Head pier known as a Cusheen.

From a boating point of view, akin to Quarantine Island, this is an out of the way anchorage in a natural setting. Yet, with a good outboard, Baltimore Harbour with its excellent restaurants and pubs is less than 15 minutes away by boat via The Sound. All the islands in Roaring Water Bay are very accessible and it makes an excellent tide wait location for those ascending the River Ilen.

What facilities are available?

There are no facilities here. A short distance upriver Oldcourt boatyard offers a complete service of boat building and workshop facilities.

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred to a boat anchored off Turk’s Head.

With thanks to:

Diarmuid Minihane, Baltimore Harbour Master. Photographs: Burke Corbett, Graham Rabbitts and A McCarron.