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Located in the centre of Roaringwater Bay, Heir Island is immediately northwest of Sherkin Island and southwest of the mainland. The smallest of the three inhabited islands in the bay area, this is a secluded anchorage close to its popular east-facing and shoreward facing beach.

Located in the centre of Roaringwater Bay, Heir Island is immediately northwest of Sherkin Island and southwest of the mainland. The smallest of the three inhabited islands in the bay area, this is a secluded anchorage close to its popular east-facing and shoreward facing beach.

Set behind islands and the mainland, with rocky shoals breaking any seaway, the anchorage offers good protection from all but very strong southerly winds. Approaches to the general area, from the north end of Baltimore Harbour or directly from Long Island Bay, are unmarked, intricate and challenging. All of this requires careful navigation in settled conditions with good visibility.


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Keyfacts for Trá Bán
Facilities
Pleasant family beach in the area


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationRemote or quiet secluded locationAnchoring locationBeach or shoreline landing from a tenderScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
None listed

Protected sectors

Current wind over the protected quadrants
Minimum depth
3 metres (9.84 feet).

Approaches
3 stars: Attentive navigation; daylight access with dangers that need attention.
Shelter
3 stars: Tolerable; in suitable conditions a vessel may be left unwatched and an overnight stay.



Last modified
June 23rd 2025

Summary

A tolerable location with attentive navigation required for access.

Facilities
Pleasant family beach in the area


Nature
No fees for anchoring or berthing in this locationRemote or quiet secluded locationAnchoring locationBeach or shoreline landing from a tenderScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
None listed




Position and approaches
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Haven position

51° 29.762' N, 009° 25.473' W

This is off the beach where vessels normally anchor

What is the initial fix?

The following River Ilen Entrance Initial Fix will set up a final approach:
51° 28.575' N, 009° 26.404' W
This is set on the clearing line of bearing 230°T of Clare Island's Doonanore Castle ruins open east of Illauneana, as best seen on Admiralty 2129.


What are the key points of the approach?

Offshore details are available in southwestern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Cork Harbour to Mizen Head Route location. River Ilen directions to the anchorage are covered in the Oldcourt Click to view haven description situated upriver from Quarantine Island.


Not what you need?
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Trá Bán for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
  1. East Pier - 0.3 nautical miles NE
  2. Turk Head - 0.5 nautical miles ESE
  3. Rincolisky Harbour - 0.5 nautical miles N
  4. Quarantine Island - 0.9 nautical miles E
  5. Kinish Harbour - 1.2 nautical miles SSE
  6. Castle Ruins - 1.4 nautical miles SE
  7. Horseshoe Harbour - 1.7 nautical miles SSE
  8. Inane Creek - 2 nautical miles ENE
  9. Baltimore - 2 nautical miles ESE
  10. Horse Island - 2.3 nautical miles NW
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
  1. East Pier - 0.3 miles NE
  2. Turk Head - 0.5 miles ESE
  3. Rincolisky Harbour - 0.5 miles N
  4. Quarantine Island - 0.9 miles E
  5. Kinish Harbour - 1.2 miles SSE
  6. Castle Ruins - 1.4 miles SE
  7. Horseshoe Harbour - 1.7 miles SSE
  8. Inane Creek - 2 miles ENE
  9. Baltimore - 2 miles ESE
  10. Horse Island - 2.3 miles NW
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What's the story here?
Trá Bán's white sands make it obvious from a distance
Image: Michael Harpur


Heir Island, also known as Hare Island or Inis Uí Drisceoil, is the third largest of the archipelago of islands in Roaringwater Bay and the fourth-largest of Carbery's Hundred Isles, after Sherkin Island, Clear Island and Long Island. Trá Bán is a sandy stretch that faces the entrance to the River Ilen.


Yachts anchored off northeastern adjacent to Trá Bán
Image: Burke Corbett


Best depths are off the northeastern shoreline where 2 metres LAT can be found about 150 metres out.


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How to get in?
Clearing line for the foul ground
Image: Michael Harpur


Convergance Point Offshore details are available in southwestern Ireland’s Coastal Overview for Cork Harbour to Mizen Head Route location. Seaward approaches and run up The Sound, from Baltimore Harbour, are covered in the Oldcourt Click to view haven River Ilen description as the anchorage lies off of its approach path.


Approaching the anchorage
Image: Burke Corbett


When abreast of Two Woman’s Rock prepare to break off this track but steer northwest to clear a shallow area with 1.5 metres over it that extends about 400 metres from Two Woman’s Rock. Once clear of this shallow area turn towards the headland that extends to the northeast of the beach and start to sound in. Do not steer to the centre of the beach as there are multiple rocks awash close south of a west bearing line off of the north face of a rock that is always dry and situated off of the beach.


Anchor under the headland that extends to the northeast of the beach
Image: Michael Harpur


Haven location Anchor according to draft in mud and sand that offers excellent holding. Best water will be found keeping about 150 metres off the northeastern shoreline.

Land on the beach in the middle of the island or at the East Pier.


Why visit here?
Trá Bán, means 'white beach' in Irish and it perfectly describes the fine sandy beach lapped by idyllic waters.

One of several Heir island beaches it is by some margin its best beach sheltered from the prevailing westerly wind. The beach is well used as an anchorage and landing point for leisure craft during the summer months. It is one of Heir Island's many wildlife preserves - see Heir Island (East Pier) Click to view haven for island information.


What facilities are available?
The island has two piers, and a shop whose location is in the main hamlet on the west side of the island, where fresh bread which is made on the island is available. Although the small island does not have a pub, it has holiday rentals, an art gallery, a sailing school, an outdoor activities camp, a permanent restaurant and an occasional restaurant located in the Sailing School. The permanent island restaurant is reputed to be very good and is by prior reservation only.

Heir Island is accessible by boat all year round by ferry. The main way to get to the island is via the island ferry that departs from Cunnamore point to the island's main pier 6 times a day, every 2 hours, from 8am to 6pm during the summer. Another ferry services Heir and Sherkin islands from Baltimore & Cunnamore throughout the Summer months of July and August.


Any security concerns?
Never an issue known to have occurred to a boat anchored off Heir Island.


With thanks to:
Diarmuid Minihane, Baltimore Harbour Master.



About Trá Bán

Trá Bán, means 'white beach' in Irish and it perfectly describes the fine sandy beach lapped by idyllic waters.

One of several Heir island beaches it is by some margin its best beach sheltered from the prevailing westerly wind. The beach is well used as an anchorage and landing point for leisure craft during the summer months. It is one of Heir Island's many wildlife preserves - see Heir Island (East Pier) Click to view haven for island information.

Other options in this area


Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Alternatively here are the ten nearest havens available in picture view:
Coastal clockwise:
Calf Island East - 1.4 miles WSW
Poulgorm Bay - 1.9 miles N
Ballydehob Bay - 1.8 miles N
Horse Island - 1.4 miles NW
Rossbrin Cove - 1.5 miles NW
Coastal anti-clockwise:
East Pier - 0.2 miles NE
Rincolisky Harbour - 0.3 miles N
Turk Head - 0.3 miles ESE
Reena Dhuna - 1.7 miles NE
Oldcourt - 2.8 miles ENE

Navigational pictures


These additional images feature in the 'How to get in' section of our detailed view for Trá Bán.















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Please note eOceanic makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this haven and do not have first-hand experience to qualify the data. Although the contributors are vetted by peer review as practised authorities, they are in no way, whatsoever, responsible for the accuracy of their contributions. It is essential that you thoroughly check the accuracy and suitability for your vessel of any waypoints offered in any context plus the precision of your GPS. Any data provided on this page is entirely used at your own risk and you must read our legal page if you view data on this site.




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