Cars wrecks are removed from island

WRECKS and bangers on the inhabited islands of West Cork used to be a tourist attraction in their own right, but now the very worst of them are being sent to their final resting place.

A total of 33 wrecks were recently transported – 12 at a time – on the Sabrina 11 landing craft from Cape Clear to Baltimore, where Richard Haley used a teleporter to mechanically remove the cars.

The cars were then taken to a registered scrap merchant in Leap, where they will be crushed and recycled for use in making steel using an arc furnace.

Cork County Council is supporting the community initiative to tidy up the islands – not just Cape but Sherkin Island, where 25 cars are in the process of being removed, and Bere Island too.

For years, tourists would marvel at the cars used by the islanders – some had no doors; some were used to house and transport livestock; while others seemed to run on a wing and a prayer.

There were, however, others who considered the old cars to be an eyesore and, in keeping with the environmental Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, principles they are now being removed and put to better use.