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Eastern Landmarks
Projects > Bantry Bay to the Present Day > Part 2
Eastern Landmarks
The Castle
The remains of a castle that is call Reenavanig Castle is supposed to have been built by the Chieftain Donal Cam O’Sullivan Bere around 1500.
This is situated near the eastern end of the island and it has been nicknamed ‘The Old Woman of Whiddy’ by the islanders. The O’Sullivan’s used this castle as a prison.
In 1602, following the battle of Kinsale, Carew had 700 men stationed there. The castle was bombarded by Cromwell and the walls collapsed in 1920.
Seaplane Base
During the First World War there was an American Seaplane Base in Whiddy. As you can see now is a large area of concrete were the hangers for the seaplanes were built. There is also a huge concrete water tank measuring 40 feet by 100 feet. At the end of the First World War the Americans left Whiddy and the Seaplane Base was no longer used. One thing that is still there is a drinking fountain 4 feet high in the shape of a cup and saucer with white stones from the seashore.
Donal Burke (Sean’s granduncle) who lives nearby told us that "when the Yanks were on Whiddy there were 2 shops, which closed down when they left. There were 5 planes and one crashed into the Bay one time. The plane was lost but the pilot was not hurt.
There is still drinking water in the tanks and they say it’s the finest water in Whiddy.
"After the war the concrete seaplane base was used as the Island "dance hall".
A Picture from the Sea Plane Base.
The Coffin Stone
This is a big flat stone, which you can see on Tranaha Quay. One Islander told us that "this stone was there ever, and the quay was cemented in around it". Every coffin that was removed from the island for burial was laid on this stone. We were also told that boats travelling in a funeral procession over the bay did so in the shape of a cross, with the coffin in the front boat. They always took the longest route e.g., those who were being buried in the Abbey cemetery would land in at Reenrour (opposite the dock in Bantry) while those who were to be buried in the Church yard would land at the Abbey Slip.
