Courtmacsherry Harbour is located on the southwest coast of Ireland about twenty miles southwest of Cork Harbour. It is set into an inlet formed by the estuary of a river that enters the northwest corner of Courtmacsherry Bay. The haven offers an anchorage off a village with the potential to come alongside a pontoon.

Situated up a well-sheltered river estuary and nestled behind a ridge, Courtmacsherry offers complete protection. One slight exception is that it can become uncomfortable during a westerly gale wind-over-tide. Access requires attentive navigation as the outer bay features some off-putting central obstructions and the river entrance has a moderately deep bar that can be subject to strong tides so both need special attention. However, all the dangers are marked or easily avoided by its wide access path and the approach has lighted marks all the way in.

Tides in the estuary are very strong, especially at springs. Courtmacsherry should not be attempted in any conditions from the southeast or moderately strong conditions from the south. In strong south-easterlies or southerly conditions, the seas break on the bar rendering it impassable. Although well-lit, a stranger should not consider entering Courtmacsherry by night.

Keyfacts for Courtmacsherry

Position and approaches

Haven position

51° 38.158' N, 008° 42.655' W

The Courtmacsherry pontoon, adjacent to the quay.

What is the initial fix?

This is on the alignment of the eastern shore of Coolmain Bay open of Coolmain Point 343°, about 120 metres southwest from the Black Tom buoy.

What are the key points of the approach?

Not what you need?

To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

What's the story here?

Courtmacsherry Harbour, locally known as Courtmac, adjoins the northwestern side of Coolmain Bay and is set within the estuary of the Argideen River. Both are approached through Courtmacsherry Bay, which lies between Seven Heads and Old Head of Kinsale with the river entered about 6 miles to the northwest of the latter. The small seaside village of Courtmacsherry consists of a single long street on the south side of the river that is situated a mile to the west of Wood Point with thick woods on rising ground behind. The village has a pier, slipway and pontoon for sea access in the centre of the village. In addition to a number of commercial fishing vessels, the harbour is the base for a Royal National Lifeboat Institution Trent Class All-weather Lifeboat since 1995.




The river is fronted by a bar with 1.8 metres LAT, about 2 metres at LWS, making it accessible by most vessels at all states of the tide. Vessels carrying significant draft will need to enter with half a following tide and will be navigating whilst being carried in by a significant tidal flow. From here a narrow and well-marked channel increases in depth to 2.4 metres as it passes close off the southern shore, westward of Wood Point, to the town quays where depths in excess of 4 metres can be found. These depths are a reasonable expectation but cannot be relied upon as they are subject to change owing to shifting sands.




It is possible to anchor clear of the channel before the No.7 buoy (QG). Beyond this buoy, the area fronting the town is entirely occupied by local moorings. The 36-metre-long Visitor Pontoon, situated close west of the pier, provides overnight berthing for visiting vessels. A fee applies and payment can be made locally at the Pier House Bar. There is ample depth at the pontoon at all states of the tide. The harbour is managed by the East Cork Harbour Master Quentin Ryder, +353 (0)21 4772154, +353 (0)85 872 3478, quentin.ryder@corkcoco.ie, alternatively berthing@corkcoco.ie.




The outside of the stone pier, east of the new platform extension, has about 0.9 metres of water LAT separating it from the pontoon. It may be used with permission from the harbour master during neaps. Vessels that can take to the bottom can dry out in the small dock that comprises the inner harbour.

How to get in?

Use the details available in southwestern Ireland’s coastal overview for Cork Harbour to Mizen Head for seaward approaches. Courtmacsherry Bay, lying between Seven Heads and Old Head of Kinsale, a distance of 7 miles in an easterly direction, is largely exposed and has several clusters of dangerous outlying rocks.



The Old Head of Kinsale is rendered unmistakable by its long peninsula with a lighthouse and the bold bluff headland of Seven Heads may be identified by its old telegraph tower and some smaller World War II watchpoints.




Seven Heads' danger is Cotton Rock situated 300 metres out from the shore on the east side of the head. Awash at high water and drying to 3.6 metres it is situated half a mile northeast of Seven Heads southernmost point.




The best course into the bay is to pass to the southwest of the Black Tom buoy to safely keep clear of the Barrel Rocks. This is because, with the exceptions of the outer Cotton Rock and Horse Rock, all the dangers are in the centre of Courtmasherry Bay and there are no obstructions between the headlands. Barrel Rock is the bay's main drying rocky area. It is over 1 mile out from the shore and was marked by a beacon that is now unmaintained and cannot be relied upon.

Barrel Rock Beacon - (no longer maintained) position: 51° 37.006’N, 008° 37.298’W


Black Tom Rock is situated to the west of this, Blueboy Rock to the east and the Inner Barrels to the north. The Black Tom buoy is moored 1 mile south of the Black Tom Rock.

Black Tom Buoy - Fl G 5s position: 51° 36.408’N, 008° 37.959’W

The Initial Fix sets up this preferred approach and it is a clear wide approach path that is lighted.






From the initial fix proceed in on the alignment of the eastern shore of Coolmain Bay 343°T, to pass midway between Horse Rock and the Black Tom Buoy. At night this is in the white sector of the Wood Point Light a sectored light showing from a 3 metres high white metal column standing at an elevation of 15 metres on Wood Point.

Wood Point - Fl (2)WR5s, 15m, 6M position: 51° 38.000’N, 008° 41.000’W




Horse Rock, and its close-lying Foal Rock, lies a ⅓ of a mile off Barry's Point and dries to 3.6 metres. It is usually visible except for at high water springs when a breaker may be expected.

Horse Rock (& Foal Rock) - unmarked position: 51° 36.630’N, 008° 40.000’W




When Horse Rock is abeam, it is safe to steer towards Wood Point around which is the entrance to the river. This can be difficult to identify as Coolmain Point, Lisheen Point and Wood Point tend to blend together as a coastline and especially so in poor light. However, on closer approaches, Wood Point distinguishes itself as a high, well-defined point, with of the Wood Point Light. Progressing into the northwest corner the water shoals gradually to 3 metres abreast of Wood Point that is bold-to, and may be rounded closely.




The river enters the bay between Wood Point and Lisheen Point a ½ mile to the north in its northwest corner of Courtmacsherry Bay. A shoal bank extends to the north of Wood Point reducing the navigable width in the channel to scarcely more than 200 metres off the south shore. The entrance is well marked by the Wood Point light to port and Courtmacsherry Buoy to starboard with the Courtmacsherry buoy moored off a spit extending from the north shore.

Courtmacsherry Buoy - Fl G 3s position: 51° 38.287’N, 008° 40.897’W




The bar lies immediately within the Wood Point light and Courtmacsherry buoy and is mostly sheltered from the heave of the sea. It tends to shift unpredictably and is largely driven by the amount and strength of the preceding southeasterly gales. Likewise, the channel marks can be damaged in such conditions and they cannot be entirely relied upon. For entry, it would be judicious to assume it is 1.5 metres deep at LWS and assume a limiting depth of chart datum in the channel. Vessels of any draft are advised to enter on the first half of a following tide. It is also recommended that sailing boats drop at this point as, owing to the shallows on each side of the channel, it is best to proceed into the harbour under power.





The channel up to the harbour is then marked by lit spar buoys and all marks including the light buoy should be tightly adhered to. The first two spars are directly west from the Courtmacsherry Buoy and easily identifiable. The third spar is situated a ¼ of a mile to the southwest of the second spar buoy off the old Lifeboat House. This is often difficult to see as it can be concealed amongst moored boats - look for a church and a white building on the shore in the background and it will be in that line of sight. Upstream of Ferry Point there are two further starboard buoys showing the snake of the river as well as moorings on both sides of the channel that can be followed up to the quay.





It is advisable to stay well to port of the last lateral mark, starboard No. 9. buoy, which is located close to the Hotel and marks the turn up northwestward to the pier. The channel has shifted here in recent times and the buoy has not been moved in accord so there have been groundings here at certain states of the tide. Following the line of moorings on the south side of the channel avoids all problems.




Generally speaking, the entrance is well marked, protected and easily managed and apart from other moored vessels, it is all sand so there is nothing hard to hit for a vessel that loses its way. The pier head is marked by 2 FR (vert) lights.




Visiting vessels may come alongside the 36-metre long pontoon, off the main quay. The helm should prepare for streams that reach up to 2 knots at springs off the pontoon. But do not swing too far on the approach as the deep channel at the pier is only 50 to 75 metres wide and it is easy for the unwary to ground on the north side of the channel. Pontoon space is at a premium and the harbour master will gladly advise of alternatives if no alongside berth is available.




Vessels may anchor east of the No. 7 spar buoy in depths of up to 5 metres. Stay at least 200 metres off the south shore as there is a shoal extending from the shore and keep clear of the small boats moored to the west of it as it is shallow in this area. Avoid anchoring in such a fashion as to impede the RNLI lifeboat, that lies afloat, or in the area where local fishing boats are moored as the ground is foul.





The stone pier may be used with permission from the harbour master during neaps and vessels that can take to the bottom can dry out in the small dock that comprises the inner harbour.




Above Courtmacsherry the harbour expands, and at low water presents a considerable area of mud and sand extending 2½ miles to the west to the village of Timoleague where the remains of a fine 14th-century abbey, the largest of the religious houses in County Cork, stands to this day. However, beyond Courtmacsherry it is the domain of the tender.

Why visit here?

Courtmacsherry derives its name from 'MacSharry's Court', in Irish Cúirt Mhic Seafraidh, when this area was the westmost Borough of Norman territories after the invasion of Ireland.

Around this time the major townships in the area were those now known as Timoleague, Lislee, Barryroe and Dunworly. Among the Norman settlers were the De Barrys and the Hodnetts an English family who settled in the area from Shropshire. The former built the castle at Timoleague, and the latter settled in Lislee. The Barrys flourished and gave their name to Barryroe and Rathbarry, whereas the Hodnetts were said to have 'degenerated into mere Irish'. One branch changed their name to MacSeafraidh, meaning 'son of Geoffrey', which was subsequently anglicised to MacSherry, or McSharry, and their land overlooking the river took their name.




Although the Barrys and Hodnetts still live in the district, there are no McSherrys. In the reign of Henry III, a great battle was fought at Timoleague, between the Hodnetts, under Lord Phillip Hodnett, and the Barrys, under Lord Barrymore. The Hodnetts were routed, and their leader was killed vastly reducing the families holding. The Hodnetts finally lost their title supporting the royalist cause against Cromwell in the Confederate wars. Their title to the land was given to one of Cromwell's followers Robert Gookin. His descendants lived on the Estate even when Lord Broghill took ownership. Interestingly, a banished Patrick MacSeafraidh, from County Antrim, that was a descendant of a Courtmacsherry Hodnett, emigrated to America in 1745. He founded what is McSherrystown in Adams County, Pennsylvania.




Courtmacsherry' history runs deeper than the Norman Conquest and this was always an important area. An excavation in Courtmacsherry of a Bronze Age Fulacht Fiadh which is the Irish name given to burned mounds. A possible ringfort, southeast of Courtmacsherry, in Meelmane, indicates Courtmacsherry was part of the shared societal practice of Ireland in the Early Christian period. A coastal promontory fort also indicated the port town’s historic need for defences from naval threats and a later castle in Courtmacsherry reflected it had a community prominent enough to necessitate the presence of a resident governing body. The castle’s location, on the shoreline, further solidifies the importance of the sea to Courtmacsherry’s sustained fortunes.




Later, descendants of Lord Broghill, the noted Boyle family, claimed the estate. Boyles styled themselves, Earls of the Shannon, from 1756 on and built a summer home here in the late 18th-century. They planted many exotic trees, shrubs and woods around the village. The village continued to grow in Victorian times, as a haven for holidaymakers from the city of Cork, and as a result, several new houses were built. This development was spurred on by the arrival of the railway in 1891. Courtmacsherry' limestone pier dates back to 1870-1880 when it was built, incorporating fabric of earlier pier and more was salvaged from an older pier to the east, known locally as Tanner's Pier, to facilitate the light railway that opened in 1891. The railway remained active until its closure in 1961.




Today Courtmacsherry is a little sea-front village that consists of a single long street embraced by thick beautiful woodland on rising ground behind. The village and harbour have escaped major development because of its remote out of the way cul-de-sac location. The ridge protects it from the Atlantic and adds to its very relaxed, friendly demeanour. Courtmac, as it is colloquially known, is referred to locally with good humour as 'a quiet drinking village with a fishing problem'. The village's main industry consists of commercial and sports fishing and a moderate tourist industry that thrives during the summer months. It consists primarily of a hotel and a caravan park, that still largely caters to visitors from Cork. Entertainment can be found in the several bars and pubs in and around the village. There is also a festival at the end of July and the beginning of August, with lots of activities and competitions for children, and entertainment and events for adults.




Much of the village life centres around the Courtmacsherry Lifeboat service that was one of the first to have been established in Ireland. It was a forerunner of the present Trent Class Lifeboat that rescued the survivors of the RMS Lusitania on May 7th, 1915. At that time the vessel had no auxiliary power and the rescue operation was hindered by the lack of wind. The crew had to row the twelve miles distance to the stricken vessel and the journey took three hours each way. The current Trent Class Lifeboat would make the journey in 20 minutes.




For hikers, there are a host of spectacular walks in the area. The woods planted by the Earl of Shannon continue beyond the village eastwards to Wood Point and are visible from seaward on entry. Between the village and 'The Point' the trees run right to the water's edge and there are several natural bathing coves along the way. This connects a network of marked walks around the rugged cliffs and shoreline to Dunworley and on through Barrryscove and Ardgehane to Aghafore and Barryshall. The Seven Heads Walks booklet, available from most retailers in Courtmacsherry, covers this in detail. Alongside the route, is a detailed history of the area and the various flora and fauna to watch out for.




The most notably remain historic object is a two-mile walk westwards along the estuary, or via small boat upriver, that leads to the village of Timoleague. Timoleague, once called 'Ty-Mologa' meaning the 'house of St. Mologa', takes its name from the ruins of the Franciscan abbey, founded here by the MaCartys. The abbey was founded by the order in 1240 and extended at various times. The earliest section is the chancel of the Gothic church. The most recent addition, the 16th-century tower, was added by the Franciscan Bishop of Ross. The friary prospered on the trade of smuggled Spanish wines, easily delivered thanks to its position on the then navigable Argideen River. The river name itself been derived from the Irish word airgead meaning 'silver'. The friars remained in the abbey until 1642 when the friary and town were burnt by Lord Forbes soldiers who then set sail for the Shannon. It was the largest of the religious houses in County Cork. There is also excellent river fishing at Timoleague as well as the best local provision shops.




From a boating perspective, Courtmacsherry is the perfect nautical gem in the West Cork cruising landscape. The pretty, sheltered and hospitable harbour permeates a cosy sense of calm and security, even with rough weather outside in the bay. It is an ideal place for a coastal cruiser to come and rest for a while, and the anchorages surrounding the mudflats are a birdwatcher's paradise.

What facilities are available?

There is water, and electricity a domestic refuse facility available at the pontoon, toilets ashore. No showers are available although this may be possible by arrangement with the hotel at the eastern end of the quay. Also available are rubbish disposal and diesel fuel by arrangement via a tanker on the adjoining quay. Mechanics and divers are available locally if required.

The village of Courtmacsherry situated on the south side of the harbour has most basic provisions. A community shop located near the Pier where fresh and local produce maybe purchased and there is a local post office in the village. Two miles away Timoleague has a large grocery store and supermarket that offers a better provisioning option. There is also a supermarket located in nearby Barryroe. The village has three bars and a Hotel all open during the season as well as Coffee shops and takeaways. Evening meals are served in the Lifeboat Inn and the Hotel.

The daily 239 bus service runs from Cork, via Bandon, to Courtmacsherry. A local taxi service is also available in the area. The village is about 40km southwest of Cork city, and 10 minutes drive east from the larger provincial town of Clonakilty.

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel at Courtmacsherry.

With thanks to:

Anthony McCarthy, local yachtsman. Photographs with thanks to Niall at the Pink Elephant and Burke Corbett.