Growth Patterns Along the Sheep's Head Peninsula
The Sheep’s Head Peninsula has seen dynamic property patterns develop over the last 10 years or so. It was once a sleepy promontory whose inhabitants got by on the typical coastal mixture of agriculture and fishing.
As money and people began to flow into the area like life’s blood flowing back into a long-forgotten limb, building took off like never before (as well as the Mussel farming more recently) and soon became the main industry in the area. Houses began to pop up all along the Sheep’s Head Peninsula. People generally speaking, weren’t too concerned as this was life coming back into an area and providing much-needed unemployment. But as time went on, more holiday homes began to sprout up. Nothing wrong in all of that, but as with everything in life, there had to be limits.
The limits have been set. There has been a significant change in the implementation of planning permissions in County Cork. Areas of outstanding natural beauty in the Republic are recognised as such and they are accordingly protected from the sort of over-development that ends up destroying a place. A green coastline can turn into a Costa Brava in no time if you’re not too careful.
Planning Policy in Cork County Council can be summed up, broadly speaking, like this: It’s very very difficult for a local person and practically impossible for an outsider to get planning permission for a once-off house in the countryside. At the same time, permisson for a development of houses in villages, towns or hamlets is actively encouraged.
So, the building boom continues apace, but those engaged in the building business along the Sheep’s Head Peninsula will now find themselves working on projects like “Ascal Mara” in Kilcrohane or other developments in Durrus rather than out in the countryside enjoying the lovely views. I’m sure that this phenomenon leads to a slightly faster pace of life and greater worker efficiency. After all, it’s much harder to slouch on the job when you’re in full view of the public and a whole gang of co-workers, instead of some far-flung spot where only the cows are witness to your workrate!
