Dooneen Pier

Dooneen Pier sits on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula in West Cork, on the shore of Dunmanus Bay and just under 2km from the village of Kilcrohane. It is a quiet, out-of-the-way spot on one of County Cork’s less-travelled peninsulas, reached along narrow rural roads that wind down to the water’s edge.

The pier is a deep-water harbour that has long been popular for fishing, with mackerel among the catches taken from its edge. The sheltered waters also make it a pleasant place for a swim on a fine day, and the flat surface of the pier is well suited to a picnic while you watch the boats and the bay.

Many visitors come simply for the views, which take in Dunmanus Bay and the surrounding hills of the Sheep’s Head Peninsula. The wider area is known for the waymarked Sheep’s Head Way walking trails, making Dooneen Pier a natural pause on a day exploring this stretch of the West Cork coast.