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Island Cottage

Classes/Courses / Cookery School / Restaurant

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For Cooking & Service Well Above Average A selection of establishments outside the standard categories that should enhance the discerning travellers experience of Ireland Denotes genuine Irish food culture, ie special Irish food products/companies/producers, and highlights the best places to shop for regional and artisan foods; the selection excludes obvious 'non-Irish' elements regardless of quality, eg ethnic restaurants and specialists in coffee, wine and other drinks, unless relevant to local production or history. Eat & Stay establishments are chosen for their commitment to showcasing local produce and Irish hospitality. Outstanding Location, building or atmosphere The "Best of the Best" - Only the very best establishments across various categories have been chosen for this accolade

Island Cottage

In their brochure, John Desmond and Ellmary Fenton describe their restaurant as unusual, in a unique and beautiful setting. This is an understatement; their Island Cottage Restaurant is extraordinary by any standards.
Seats 24 (max table size 10; be prepared to share a table). Restaurant open 15 June to 15 September, Wed - Sat. Open Sun private bookings only. D from 7.45pm-11.15 pm; one sitting served at group pace. Set Menu - no choice, no exceptions D €40. Wine from €20. L April-mid-June €20. Off-season: groups of 16-24 by arrangement. Closed Sun- Tue, and mid Sep-mid June (please phone to check off season opening days/times). No credit cards. *Off season cookery courses available. abbreviations

In their brochure, John Desmond and Ellmary Fenton describe their restaurant as unusual, in a unique and beautiful setting. This is an understatement; their Island Cottage Restaurant is extraordinary by any standards. You have to get there and back by ferry, a five-minute sail from Cunnamore pier, departing 7.55pm returning 11.55pm, for a return fare of €6.00.


You can’t help but feel part of something special, sailing into Roaring Water Bay among a boatload of fellow dinner-time sailors, adrenaline rising in anticipation of an island feast, which, after the ten minute walk from the pier, is exactly what you get.


In prescriptive fashion the brochure states “set menu, no choice, consists of a starter, main course, salad and cheese course, homemade brown bread, dessert and filter coffee.” Dinner might begin, after hummous-on-brown bread appetisers, with a ragout of vegetables in a light but deeply flavoured mushroom sauce, accompanied by more of the delicious, crusty brown bread.


The ample main course may be duck or fish or, as on the night in question, a joint of rarely roasted beef striploin comes carved with roast potatoes on the most intensely flavoured red wine sauce; utterly simple and marvellous, followed by dressed green salad and a slice of Gubbeen cheese and then the pièce de resistance, an alcoholic, hot Cointreau soufflé.


Coffee is served, along with a single freshly made chocolate truffle, in demi-tasses of Shanagarry pottery, before everyone pays and makes their way through moonlit dark to the midnight appointment with the ferryman.


John Desmond’s single-handed cooking of the freshest ingredients is that of a consummate professional: controlled, precise, with occasional flourishes (the dramatic soufflé) in confident expectation of applause. Ellmary combines the duties of maitresse d’hotel and MC with similar attention to detail.  She rules the roost; the presumption is that diners submit to her authority.


Some may find the primacy of order – advance booking only with deposit, no credit cards, do’s and don’ts – a bit off-putting, but most are won over by the singular dining experience, unchanging and successful for over twenty years.


There is a small selection of well chosen red and white wine: four red and four white; priced about €20 to €45, you may be confident that they will be fine examples of their type and very good value.


Small functional glasses double for water and wine and cutlery is plain stainless steel. Wooden tables are adorned with fragrant little vases (Shanagarry again) of herbs grown around the periphery of the cottage, among them, curry plant, bay, rosemary, sage, fennel, borage, parsley, marjoram, chives.


The small cottage takes a maximum of 22 spread over three tables.  All bookings under six share a table.  Group bookings are possible even in the off season. One unisex toilet - small, but just about adequate.


Island Cottage Cookery School operates two-day courses for two people during March, April, May, September and October; morning courses, inclusive of light lunch, in the period 15 June to 15 September and four-day “hands on with John”, Wednesday to Sunday, in July and August.


An off-Island private dinner party service is available between 16 September and 14 June.


John Desmond is a respected artist as well as chef; his paintings hang in the gallery adjoining the restaurant. Interested parties should also inquire about the Island Cottage Artists/Writers' Retreats.

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  • Breaks - Off Season
  • Breaks - Short
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  • Broadband WI/FI
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  • Location - Beach <1km
  • Location - By the sea
  • Location - On an island
  • Location - Peaceful
  • Location - Remote
  • Location - Scenic
  • Private Parties
  • Contemporary Irish
Last Updated: 13-01-2021
Author: Georgina Campbell
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+353 28 38102
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Address

Island Cottage
Heir Island, Skibbereen Co Cork
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Directions About Skibbereen Trip Planning Tools
From Skibbereen, on Ballydehob road, turn left at Church Cross, signposted Hare Island and Cunnamore. Narrow winding road, past school, church, Minihan's Bar. Continue to end of road, Cunnamore car park. Ferry (blue boat) departs Cunnamore pier at 7.55 returns at 11.55 (journey: 4 minutes.) For ferry, contact John Moore / Richard Pyburn Tel: 086 809 2447.
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                  • Comments
                  14th December 2014
                  Benjamin Snyder
                  John and Ellmary, I sure wish we had been able to visit you and enjoy your wonderful hospitality (and also your cooking). I'm too old to travel much and Ginger died in August. We shall never forget all you taught us in Chatou. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Ben Snyder
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