Irish TV chef Rachel Allen has helped to launch a new guide to the town of Ballycotton, Co. Cork.
The booklet documents the region's rich history as well as providing information on local tourist attractions, such as sandy beaches, lighthouse tours and scenic cliff walks.
Ballycotton Seafood and Shanty committee member, Helen Cuddigan, told The Irish Examiner that local businesses and residents of the area all contributed to the creation of the guide, adding that its aim "is to ensure that visitors don't miss out on all the wonderful amenities and attractions the locality offers."
Proceeds from the booklet, which is being sold at a cost of €5, will be put towards further village development and tourism initiatives.
In the past, the people of Ballycotton have worked together to salvage and restore the historic Mary Stanford Lifeboat for display along the local cliff walk as well as launching Ballycotton Island Lighthouse Tours in conjunction with Yasmin Hyde of Ballymaloe Foods. Ballycotton also become a hotspot for open-air concerts and street parties during the summer.
The town's next big event will be the fourth annual Seafood and Shanty Festival the weekend of the June bank holiday. Activities will include fish filleting workshops, arts and crafts for kids, a crab derby on the pier and demonstrations on basic water safety by the town's RNLI and Coast Guard. Attendees can also avail of fresh fish and chips, free ice-cream and a whole host of other culinary delights.
