Gormú

02/06/2026

Looking forward to reading about our favourite despot!

FREE DOWNLOAD OF MY SHORT BOOKLET ON SIR WALTER COPPINGER OF COPPINGER’S COURT, ROSSCARBERY, WEST CORK.

Download from the link below ⬇️.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x--3M8gS-Oq-SXVUOVgjheY9660g7zYA/view?usp=drivesdk

Many of you here, who are following me with a good few years now, would know that nearly ten years ago i started writing a book on the history of Sir Walter Coppinger of Coppinger’s Court, Rosscarbery. Between shelving it many times for months and years on end, rewriting it etc, I've finally got around to finishing it off. It was originally a very large piece of work, but i have reduced it by over 50% at least, and i have come to the decision that since it is reduced, it wasn't going to be financially viable for me to publish it as a paperback. So instead, i have made it into a 35 page file (1 hr read, just under 7,000 words+photos) so you, my loyal readers can download it for free, onto your laptop or phone etc. In the future, i will be adding this short booklet to a much larger body of work consisting of many articles combined, which will be published as a paperback.

This short booklet deals with Sir Walter Coppinger, a roman catholic, lawyer, landowner, moneylender and despot who lived at Coppinger’s Court, Rosscarbery during the early 1600s. I give a summary on the history of West Cork during that period, his dealings in nearby Baltimore, the sacking of Baltimore in 1631, his mansion house in Rosscarbery with photos, and the folklore surrounding him and his wicked ways.

I hope you enjoy the read and my apologies in advance for the layout of this file, as I'm not very tech savy unfortunately with these things, it's the best i can do. I would be most grateful if you could share this post with your friends and tag anyone in the comment section below, who would be interested in reading it.
Thank you everyone and enjoy.

Photo of Coppinger’s Court, Rosscarbery by Barrie Jordan.

02/06/2026

Nice mention from Tourism Ireland in Germany

30/05/2026

Bóithríní 🎬
When even the road gets a starring role! eBikes on a grassy bóithrín with four legends rounding a corner in the rain. “Are you filming the road?”—“We don’t have this at home!” Some puddles are worth it!

27/05/2026

Aimsir dhraíochtúil ✨
A few shots from our eBike tours and swim experiences over the last 24 hours around West Cork. Hope you’re all enjoying this glorious weather. 😎

24/05/2026

Grianmhar 😎🌞
A glorious weekend of tours around West Cork in bright sunshine.
Saturday saw us out on Toe Head in the morning with a hiking tour and around Castlehaven with a walking/food tour in the afternoon.

Today we were out with our new eBike tour which departs from after a glorious dawn swim.

22/05/2026

Rabhán 🌸💖

Known by many names here in Ireland, caróg mhara, thrift, nóinín cladaigh, sea pinks and rabhán.

Armeria maritima subsp. maritima as it’s known scientifically is the flower that truly heralds the arrival of summer here in West Cork and right across the Wild Atlantic Way. There are millions and millions of them in bloom right now in a glorious first flush.

The rabhán will continue to bloom across the summer, but the flushes will be smaller. Nothing beats the first flush in May!

16/05/2026

Come hiking with us on the June Bank Holiday Weekend while staying at the Celtic Ross Hotel
- contact the Celtic Ross for details of this fab package.
- it should be an amazing weekend!

16/05/2026

An Capall Ciúin

Last night we picked up An Capall Ciúin, the newest member of the Gormú family from Simon Brenner and the team at Kerry Motor Works

We’ve called it An Capall Ciúin, meaning the silent/quiet horse. In keeping with our eco tourism ethos, it’s a 100% electric Ford E-Transit. This quiet workhorse (see what we did there 😅) will carry us, our stories, our eBikes and and our swimming gear along the bóithríní of Iarthar Chorcaí in our section of the Wild Atlantic Way, including servicing our new eBike tours from

A massive míle buíochas to Simon and all the team at Kerry Motor Works for their help along the way. We might be rivals on the day of a Munster final but it was a pleasure doing business in Co. Kerry.

Full post and photo series with the amazing detailing by D-signs to follow…..

14/05/2026

Beannachtaí Phartaláin
Up before the world was fully awake this morning, chopping firewood before 6am in the dawn chorus, and gathering at Trá na nDabhcha by 7am in keeping with the old rhythm of pattern days and dawn pilgrimages.
There’s something powerful about marking a local feast day in the place itself, with the sea below us, the first light coming over Ceann Tuaithe, and the stories of Partaláin still connecting us to those who have come here for over 1,000 years.
This morning was simple, intimate and full of wonder. A walk, a blessing, a bit of dúchas, and our puball allais ritual by the shore, inspired by the old Irish tigh allais tradition.
Míle buíochas to everyone who joined us. These are the mornings that remind us why we do what we do.
Beannachtaí Phartaláin oraibh go léir.

12/05/2026

Beannachtaí Phartaláin

This Thursday, May 14th, marks the feast day of Partaláin, a local saint associated with Ceann Tuaithe / Toe Head. He is very likely the origin of the many Barthy’s found locally, and his holy well, Tobar Phartaláin, is found on the peninsula.
As we have done each year since founding Gormú, we’ll mark the occasion at dawn, in keeping with the local tradition. This year, we’ll also feature our new puball allais ritual, inspired by the Irish tigh allais, or sweat house, tradition.
A limited number of places are available at just €25pp under Special Events on our website.