What's the story here?

Ormond’s Harbour is a rocky inlet on the southeastern shore of the Kenmare River 3½ miles northeastward of Kilmakilloge Harbour and 6½ southwestward of Kenmare. Sheltered by Ormond’s Island, on the north, and by Hog Island with its adjacent rocks extending shoreward on the west, the south side of the harbour provides a protected anchorage. Landings may be had at Coornagillagh Quay at the head of the harbour.




Though forbidding in aspect, from the number of rocks around it, the harbour offers a useful anchorage. Hog Island and the foul drying ground that lies between Hog Island it the southern shore provides good shelter from western swell. The anchorage to the east of the islet is generally as smooth as a millpond and entirely free from any tidal current. It has 5 metres LAT over a muddy bottom that provides excellent holding.

How to get in?

Use Ireland’s coastal overview for Mizen Head to Loop Head for seaward approaches and the the run-up the Kenmare River. The southern shore from Leaghillhaun, opposite Maiden Rock and Rossmore Island, to Ormond Island, 1½ miles northeastward, is fringed with outlying rocks and should be given a wide berth. Keep a sharp eye out for fishing pots and floating lines between the pots on the approach. The harbour is home to several lobster boats and they do not seem to venture far when setting out their pots.




Ormond’s Island consists of two small hills with large meadows edged with furze. It is 10 metres high at its highest point and has a rocky reef that extends westward for 350 metres from its western extremity and 250 metres southwestward western from its western end. This is very much in the path of vessels rounding in from the east. The west end of Ormond's Island should be given a wide berth and all approaches should be from well to westward. Once Ormond’s Island has been identified Hog Island, 3.3 metres high, on its southwest side should be easily identified.




From the Initial Fix steer for the entrance between Ormond Island and Hog Island. The pass is 180 metres wide, with depths of 4.6 to 7.3 metres. There is, however, exactly in the middle of the approach a rock with 2.3 metres LAT and a deeper-draft vessel can pass to the southward of this, on Hog Island side, to get the best passage in.

When about 200 metres within Hog Island haul southward and prepare to anchor with the north part of Hog Island bearing about 270° T and the middle of the bight in Ormond Island northward or 000° T.





Fish around for the best anchoring position off of the southern shore according to draft and conditions.




Land at Coomagillagh Quay at the east end of the harbour. Alternatively, the drying quay further in that has a slip at high water.

Why visit here?

Ormond island, in Irish directly translated to Oileán Urúmhan, was named after the Earls of Ormond, the Butlers, members of an Anglo-Norman dynasty that controlled vast stretches of territory in Munster.

The original Irish name when it was inhabited was Illaunaroon. This is derived from the Irish Oileán-a-rún, with a-rún, pronounced 'a roon' a term of affection. So the name roughly means 'my dear' or 'my loved island'. The mainland pier Coornagillagh Quay takes its name from the Irish Cuar-na-gcailleach, bay of the cormorants. Cailleach-dubh, meaning 'black nun', is one of the names of the cormorant.

The earldom of Ormond was originally created in 1328 for James Butler. Thereafter the earls took significant roles in the government of Ireland and kept a tradition of loyalty to the English crown and to English custom. This made them mortal enemies of the Gaelic chieftains of this area that, during the medieval period, was the territory of the historic family of O’Sullivan Beare. They controlled this area from the castle of Ardea, which overlooks Lehid Harbour a mile and a half to the southwest. It was in Ardea Castle that Dónal Cam is believed to have been with most of his army at the time of the Siege of Dunboy - see Dunboy Bay & Traillaun Harbour .

He was waiting on a fleet of ships with an army from Spain to commence a counteroffensive. To his great disappointment, in 1602, only one Spanish ship vessel ever arrived. It landed supplies of money and ammunition at this castle. It only assisted him and his supporters to sustain a series of guerrilla actions against the English forces from the mountains for the following six months. Towards the end of the year, while camped in a valley outside Glengarriff, all his livestock was seized. Knowing his people could not survive the winter, Dónal Cam then led them on the epic Long March to Leitrim. Of the 1,000 who set out, only thirty-five arrived at the castle of the O’Rourkes in Breifne a fortnight later. Dónal Cam O’Sullivan Beare was the only Irish chieftain refused a pardon by Elizabeth I or her successor, James I.

The castle was surrendered to the English, and then re-granted to those of the O’Sullivans who pledged loyalty to the Crown. However, it was subsequently destroyed on Cromwell’s orders in 1643 and the family were obliged to rent their former property. The lands continued to be passed down the generations. It is recorded that one member of the sept, Darby O’Sullivan, aged 103, requested a renewal of the lease from the Earl of Shelburne in 1793.

Ormand Island was populated throughout this period. An account from the middle of the 17th century was of a nobleman Robert Orpen who went into hiding here with it would seem a rather extraordinarily committed wife. The account goes… "He had been a merchant in Cork, but, having become embarrassed, had the misfortune to kill a bailiff who attempted to arrest him. Afterwards, he resided at Ormond's Island in the river of Kenmare, where at that period it would have been impossible to arrest him. It was on the occasion of a person endeavouring to force the door of the room where he was that his wife placed her back against the door, and, though the bayonets were thrust through the door, she had the fortitude to maintain her position till her husband effected his escape."




Ormand Island became unpopulated for a long time after this and no one was recorded to be living on it during the Famine. The 1901 census records a family of three living here, Patrick Casey aged 66; Katie aged 25 and Jeremiah aged 22. Farming was obviously the mainstay of their existence but in all likelihood fishing too. But, like Robert Orpen, Jeremiah fell foul of the law. He had thrown a stone that had inflicted various facial injuries and a broken nasal bone of a Patrick O’Sullivan at a Kilmakilloge pattern. But with no stalwart wife to bar entry, he was duly arrested, charged and jailed.




Nowadays Ormond Island is a very out of the way small island. Waisted in the middle and drumlin like it is easily walked. It has no residents now and is grazed by cattle who cross the connecting causeway at low tide. The island has the remains of two ruins on the island. One with outbuildings is located in the attractive ticket of silver birch in the waisted area near the middle. It would have once been a fine two-storied farmhouse. The other marks a landing spot at the east end of the island.




One of three castles owned by O‘Sullivan- Bere Clan, Ardea Castle lies in ruins overlooking the inlet, from just above Lehid Harbour. The cliff on which it stood has eroded in recent years and all that is left are fragments of the external walls. It is an hour's walk (5km) from the harbour and difficult to find because it is completely overgrown and difficult to access.




Alternatively, Lehid Harbour at the foot of the cliffs is accessible by tender with a stalwart outboard, 3 miles, in settled weather cut the walk dramatically. But it is worth the trek as it is a touchstone in the history of the nation and it occupies a bold and romantic situation on a lofty cliff. Once found and close to it, those who venture there will be rewarded with breath-taking views over the inlet.




From a boating point of view, Ormond's Harbour is an out of the way and unremarkable spot. But tucked into the south shore it is remarkably protected and could provide a wonderful contrast to the busy town of Kenmare.

What facilities are available?

There are no facilities save for the quays and road access. A piped water supply exists at gate on the southeast corner of Ormond’s Island.

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel anchored in Ormond's Harbour.

With thanks to:

eOceanic.com