Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of ringfort and fulacht fiadh sites in the townlands of Dromnea, Rossnacaheragh and Gorteanish.[2] A stone circle at Gorteanish dates to the Bronze Age (2200–600 B.C.).[3] Gorteanish stone circle, which was undocumented until the 1990s, was excavated and renovated in 2023.[4]
The Air India Memorial Garden is located at Ahakista, and each June the local community remembers the terrorist attack of 1985 that resulted in the deaths of over 300 people. On the morning of 23 June 1985, an Air IndiaBoeing 747, flying from Canada to India, was approaching the southwest coast of Ireland when it was blown apart by a bomb, killing all 329 people on board.
In the days that followed, extensive searches resulted in the recovery of some of the victims bodies - which were brought to Cork Regional Hospital. Shortly afterwards, relatives of the dead flew from India and Canada and travelled to be near to the place where their loved ones died. They stopped at Ahakista and threw wreaths into the sea. They expressed a wish that a memorial be erected, and Cork County Council subsequently purchased the site and built a memorial. It was officially opened on 23 June 1986 at a ceremony attended by the foreign ministers of Ireland, India and Canada.
A commemoration is held each year on the morning of 23 June. A sundial, designed by Cork sculptor, Ken Thompson, is the focal point of the garden and the sun hits the dial at 08:00, the time of the explosion.[5]
Amenities and tourism
The 'tin pub'
Ahakista's church, St. Patrick's Roman Church at Rusnacahara, was built c. 1820.[6]
There are two pubs in the area - both with beer gardens.[citation needed] One of these pubs, known locally as the 'tin pub',[7] has a corrugated-iron roof and walls.[8]
Other amenities include a wine shop, two bed and breakfasts, several self-catering accommodations and a garden centre.[citation needed] There is a small sandy beach, and the 90 kilometres (56 miles) Sheep's Head Way marked trail passes through the village. In August 2008, this walkway became one of the first four publicly funded walkways in Ireland – following agreement between the Department of Rural Affairs and the Irish Farmers Association.[citation needed]
The deep water harbour at Ahakista is home to fishing boats and pleasure craft and hosts the annual Ahakista Regatta each August bank holiday weekend.[citation needed]
Schools
Ahakista has a primary school and there is daily transportation to secondary schools in Bantry. The local primary school is called Rusnachara National School, and had 26 pupils as of 2013.[9]
Wolf Mankowitz (writer, playwright and screenwriter) lived for many years in Ahakista, till his death in 1998[11]
Noel Streatfeild (author) spent several summers in Ahakista. The screen version of her children's book "The Growing Summer" (also known as "The Magic Summer") was filmed in the area. Several scenes were shot in the actual places she had envisaged when writing the book. A six-episode television serial, released in 1969, starred Wendy Hiller as Aunt Dymphna and won a silver medal at the 1969 Venice Film Festival.[citation needed]
