Bantry Marine Activity Centre (BMAC) is a volunteer-led community initiative with a shared ambition — to create a vibrant, inclusive space on the shores of Bantry Bay. Formed by local residents with a passion for the sea and a belief in access for all, BMAC is working to deliver a dedicated marine facility that brings people together through activity, heritage, and connection to the water.

The proposed centre will be multi-purpose and universally accessible, designed to support the entire marine community — including rowers, sailors, swimmers, kayakers, and anyone drawn to life on the water. Whether you're an experienced water user or discovering marine activities for the first time, BMAC aims to provide a welcoming home for you.

What began as a simple idea among passionate locals in 2015 has grown into a determined and well-organised effort to create a lasting community asset on the shores of Bantry Bay.

In the early years, BMAC opened conversations with Bantry Bay Port Company / Port of Cork and participated in vital community consultations, ensuring the project was aligned with local needs and aspirations. By 2018, the group had already contributed to national design reviews of Bantry Harbour and positioned itself as a key voice for marine development in the area.

From 2019 onwards, BMAC shifted gears — tackling the complexities of planning, funding, and feasibility. They collaborated with professional architects, planners and engineers, mapped out project costs, and successfully secured a grant from the Bantry Community Fund to cover costs for a feasibility study and to submit a planning application.

With respected architects and marine specialists on board, they advanced to a full feasibility study and submitted a Maritime Area Consent application in 2024 — a key requirement for planning approval. Now in 2025, BMAC is awaiting crucial feedback that will allow the team to refine their designs and move one step closer to building Bantry’s own marine activity hub.

Bantry Marine Activity Centre has reached a critical milestone in its development — the planning phase.

In late 2024, BMAC submitted a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) application to the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), a mandatory step before full planning permission can be sought.

While BMAC is currently awaiting a response on its MAC application, it remains actively engaged with planning consultants, engineers and architects on preparing a planning application.

At this stage, the project remains in its early phases, and community involvement continues to play a vital role. The support, feedback, and participation of local residents, clubs, and stakeholders are central to ensuring that the final plans reflect the needs of Bantry and its marine users.

Once feedback is received from Cork County Council on the pre-planning submission, the design team will be able to finalise drawings, outline exact planning deliverables, and move forward with preparing required deliverables.

For those who would like to stay informed, routine BMAC updates will be posted on our Facebook page.

“BMAC works alongside local groups to create a home for Bantry’s marine traditions.”

BMAC is not just a facility in planning — it’s already a part of Bantry’s vibrant marine community. From the very beginning, this project has grown through collaboration with local clubs, volunteers, and passionate individuals who share a love for the water and a desire to see Bantry thrive. The future centre is being designed with the needs of these groups in mind, offering shared access to safe, inclusive, and purpose-built marine infrastructure.

Among BMAC’s key partners are Bantry Rowing Club, Atlantic Challenge Ireland, and Bantry Sailing Club — organisations that have long championed seamanship, tradition, and youth development along Bantry Bay. These groups will benefit directly from the new facility, which will offer better access, secure storage, and year-round usability, supporting everything from competitive training to casual community events.

BMAC also supports the growing sea swimming community in Bantry. With increased interest in open water swimming over recent years, there’s a clear need for safe entry points, shared changing spaces, and local coordination.

If you’re a sea swimmer looking to connect, take part, or learn more, feel free to get in touch via the dedicated BMAC Sea Swimming contact.

• Bantry Rowing Club
• Atlantic Challenge Ireland
• Open Water Swimming
• Bantry Sailing Club