Original Article by Mike Daly
The story of the Danzig Lavender Store begins in 2021, with a simple conversation and a hopeful idea. Joe and a few of us were talking about the possibility of growing lavender on Cape Clear. The island, with its wild Atlantic air and rugged beauty, felt like the perfect place for it. What started as a casual discussion soon turned into a plan, and by 2022 several sites across the island had been planted with rows of young lavender.
But as the plants took root and began to grow, another thought followed naturally. If we were to harvest lavender and create products from it, we would need somewhere special to share them with visitors. A place with a story of its own.
Cape Clear has always been close to my heart. Both of my parents were born here, and throughout my childhood my sister and I spent our summer holidays on the island. I still remember the walks we took up the steep hill from North Harbour, passing an old ruin that stood quietly by the roadside. It had once been two small cottages, long abandoned but still dignified in its weathered stone.
Even then, it left an impression on me.
So when the idea of a lavender shop emerged, my mind returned immediately to that building. I was determined to find its owner and see whether it might be possible to restore it sympathetically and give it a new life as a summer shop for visitors to the island.
By the spring of 2023, that dream began to take shape. With the help of half a dozen local islanders, we set about restoring the building, known locally as Danzig. The stone walls, remarkably, were still strong despite being over 200 years old, a testament to the craftsmanship of those who built it. The original thatched roof had long ago been replaced with slate, though the tiles had certainly seen better days.
Using locally sourced materials wherever possible, we carefully repaired the roof, restored the original wooden windows, and brought the old half barn doors back to life. After extensive pointing of the stonework and the careful installation of electrics, the building slowly transformed from ruin to welcoming little shop.
That summer, the Danzig Lavender Store opened its doors.
Over the following years, something lovely began to happen. During the quiet winter months, more and more local artists and craft makers started creating lavender-inspired products to sell in the shop during the busy summer season. What began as a small idea grew into a vibrant collaboration.
Today we are proud to showcase the work of over ten Irish craft makers, offering more than one hundred handmade products. Visitors can discover everything from lavender soaps and candles to lavender ice cream and even a unique Cape Clear Lavender Gin.
The shop opens every afternoon throughout the summer and is run by four wonderful local Cape Clear ladies. Not only do they know the lavender products inside out, they also act as friendly guides for the many walkers and visitors passing through, sharing stories of the island and helping people discover its hidden corners.
The store is wheelchair accessible and dog friendly, and many visitors comment on the moment they step inside: the gentle scent of lavender in the air and the colourful display of handcrafted goods that fill the little stone building.
And of course, there is the name.
The building has long been known locally as Danzig, a name that dates back to a time when Europe was in conflict over the city of Gdansk. At the time, islanders jokingly compared the arguments between neighbours living in the two adjoining cottages to the famous dispute between Germany and Poland. The nickname stuck, and over time the cottages simply became known as Danzig.
When we restored the building, we felt the history was too charming to erase. So the name remained.
Today, Danzig Lavender Store stands not just as a shop, but as a small piece of Cape Clear’s living story, where old stone walls, island craftsmanship, and the scent of lavender come together to welcome visitors each summer.
