LIKE every island in Ireland, Cape Clear is fighting for survival. Policies written for a mainland context are often stifling and crippling our ability to get ahead.

By Niamh Ní Dhrisceoil

Housing is a prime example. While the housing crisis on the mainland has come to the fore in recent years, the islands have been grappling with it for decades, compounded by the fact that properties that come onto the market are often sold at inflated prices online as holiday homes to people who have never even set foot on the island.

There is no shortage of families who wish to move to Cape Clear—but we have nowhere to house them. In 2020, Comharchumann Chléire, at the time I was Cathaoirleach/Chairperson, purchased a site approximately 200m from the primary school, with road frontage and access to services. The intention was simple: to build at least four gateway houses— these are homes that families could rent at affordable rates to try out island life.

Perhaps after a year they decide it’s not for them—and that’s perfectly fine. They’ve had a wonderful year, made friends for life, and when they move on, the house remains in the ownership of the island. Or perhaps they find their forever home among our warm and welcoming community. In that case, they can continue renting until they buy or build a permanent home on the island. It’s a no-brainer.

We  had plans drawn up, but on advice had to withdraw our application. Local policy favours cluster housing, and national policy does too—but with the caveat that it must be within a certain limit or distance of a town or village. There are no towns or villages on the islands.

But we haven’t given up. We are a resilient bunch, and we have had to fight hard for everything we have. While we continue to push for planning approval for those much-needed gateway houses, we are also moving forward with a range of exciting projects that show just how big our small island can think.

Under the stewardship of Comharchumann Chléire, Cape Clear proudly became the first island in Ireland to operate fully electric public buses. Today, these buses navigate our hilly, windy roads with ease, proving once again that our tiny community can lead the way in pioneering, sustainable solutions.

Cape Clear is also home to a G Teic suite, part of Údarás na Gaeltachta’s network of 31 digital hubs across the Gaeltacht. The suite provides high-quality workspaces, high-speed broadband, and a creative, innovative environment to support employment in sectors such as technology, digital, and the creative industries.

Oileán Chléire has also embraced the calming charm of lavender with the Cape Clear Lavender initiative, bringing the island’s fragrant fields to life in both product and experience. The annual Lavender Festival (last weekend in June) has become a highlight of the island calendar.

The current heritage centre on Oileán Chléire is being relocated and transformed into a new purpose-built facility—the Cape Clear Heritage Centre and Fastnet Experience—which is due to open early next year.

And for the younger generation, a brand-new playground is being built at North Harbour, on a site between the offices of Comharchumann Chléire and the Bird Observatory.

The road ahead is exciting, and we cannot wait to see what the next chapter of life on Cape Clear will bring  – but none of it can happen without more housing.