Jeremy: My Secret Love For Ireland -- Star Tells Of Passion For Unique Bay
by Allison Bray, The News Of The World
February 4, 2001
HOLLYWOOD star Jeremy Irons has fallen in love with the beautiful Roaring Water Bay area in West Cork after making his second home there.
The British actor will reveal his secret passion in a major television show this week when he gives viewers a guided tour of his beloved bay on a schooner.
The 52-year-old Oscar-winner bought Kilcoe Castle, overlooking the bay, near Skibbereen, three years ago for Pounds 150,000. Since then he and his Irish actress wife Sinead Cusack have spent more than a million pounds restoring the 16th Century building.
They have also become keen supporters of local schemes to preserve the bay's environment.
In RTE's Out Of The Blue, Jeremy describes the area as one of the best examples in Europe of a co-ordinated approach by local fishermen, residents and tour operators to keep the bay clean.
Praise
"These are the waters that I sail and the waters that I live on the edge of. Here it seems to be a success story where we have very, very clean water," he says.
The actor describes how the pristine water in the bay has allowed shellfish, such as mussels, oysters and clams, to flourish.
But he said it is a local management scheme known as CLAMS, or the Co ordinated Local Aquaculture Management System, that deserves praise. The scheme allows all parties using the bay to be able to work and play in it without destroying its delicate eco-system.
Under the co-operative scheme, all users of the bay, including fishermen and recreational users, must adhere to strict guidelines to ensure minimal conflict with each other's interests.
The show's host Derek Davis said Jeremy is a proud supporter of CLAMS and he is keen on supporting efforts to keep the bay intact.
"He really comes alive when you press the environment button," he said.
"Jeremy is passionate about it. He grew up by the sea and he loves the water. Yet he's also laid back and very compassionate and is supportive of plans to protect the bay."
Derek said Jeremy was more than happy to take him on a tour of the bay and describe its history.
"He has travelled all over the world yet he's elected to live here. He has an incredible knowledge about the history of the area."
Out of the Blue is on RTE One on Wednesday at 7.30 p.m.