Sherkin is one of the most southerly points of Ireland after the Fastnet Rock, Cape Clear, and Brow Head.

[citation needed] Sherkin is served year-round by a ferry service operating from the port of Baltimore.

[12] These two buildings were heavily damaged in 1537 when citizens of Waterford invaded the island after a dispute over a seized and plundered ship.

[citation needed] The journey to the neighbouring Gaeltacht island Cape Clear takes on average approximately 40 minutes.

A number of Sherkin's residents are active in the fields of art, including crafts, painting and writing.

Because the island has no local refuse disposal facilities, campers and picnickers are encouraged to bring minimum packaging and take any litter back to the mainland or recycle cans and bottles on Sherkin Pier.

On this day the island is visited by sea rowers and their supporters, with children's activities, music and food stalls.

[19][20] Founded in 1975, it is mainly involved in gathering baseline marine data,[21][19] and also produces a number of reports, books and the quarterly 'Sherkin Comment' journal.