{{Short description|Townland in County Waterford, Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Use Irish English|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox landform | water = | name = Helvick | other_name = | type = Headland | image = 20120812 26 Ireland - Co. Waterford - Ballyvoile (7939021888).jpg
| image_size = | alt = | caption = View from Ballyvoile out to Helvick Head | pushpin_map = Ireland | map_width = | map_caption = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_label = | mark = | marker_size = | location = | grid_ref = | grid_ref_UK = | grid_ref_Ireland = | coordinates = {{Coord|52.053615 |-7.536734|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = | range = | part_of = | water_bodies = | elevation_ft = <!-- or |elevation_m = --> | elevation_ref = | surface_elevation_ft = <!-- or |surface_elevation_m = --> | surface_elevation_ref = | highest_point = | highest_elevation = | highest_coords = | length = | width = | area = <!-- {{Convert|NN|ha|acres}} --> | depth = | drop = | formed_by = | geology = Old Red Sandstone | age = 380 million years | orogeny = | volcanic_arc/belt = | volcanic_arc = | volcanic_belt = | volcanic_field = | last_eruption = | topo = | operator = | designation = | free_label_1 = | free_data_1 = | free_label_2 = | free_data_2 = | free_label_3 = | free_data_3 = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | embedded = }}
'''Helvick''' or '''Helvick Head''' ({{Langx|ga|Heilbhic, Ceann Heilbhic}}, {{langx|non|Hellavík}}) is a headland on the southern end of Dungarvan Harbour, Ireland; it is the eastern tip of the Ring Peninsula.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/through-the-gaeltacht-and-to-the-sea-1.597126|title=Through the Gaeltacht and to the sea|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=15 June 2011|accessdate=10 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irelandhighlights.com/info/helvick-head/|title=Helvick Head - Ireland Highlights}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eoceanic.com/sailing/harbours/30/helvick|title=eOceanic|website=eoceanic.com}}</ref>
Formed of Old Red Sandstone, it is the easternmost protrusion of a ridge that begins near Cork City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ucc.ie/en/bees/outreach/geogarden/rock1/|title=Old Red Sandstone|website=University College Cork}}</ref> [[File:Helvick Head Lifeboat Station 2015 09 13.jpg|thumb|Royal National Lifeboat Institution station]]
==Name== Helvick is one of a very few Irish place names derived from Old Norse. The second part, -''vík'', means "bay" (cf. Smerwick). The meaning of the first part is unclear, but it may mean "healthy", "white", "holy", or "safe"; compare with Hellvik, Norway.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/49599|title=Heilbhic/Helvick|website=Logainm.ie}}</ref>
==Wildlife== {{Commons category|Helvick Head Pier}} Helvick Head is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).<ref>[https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac/000665 Helvick Head SAC | National Parks & Wildlife Service<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The cliffs are a nesting site for seabirds including choughs and shag. Other bird species include razorbill, Northern fulmar, peregrine falcon, black-legged kittiwake, black guillemot, and common murre (guillemot).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/protected-sites/natura2000/NF000665.pdf | title=Helvick Head SAC | publisher=National Parks & Wildlife Service | date=January 2019 | accessdate=10 January 2021}}</ref>
Plants include gorse, bell heather, ling, devil's-bit scabious, heath bedstraw, bog violet, burnet rose, thrift, kidney vetch, sea mayweed and wild carrot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.askaboutireland.ie/enfo/irelands-environment/county-focus/waterford/coast/helvick-head/|title=Helvick Head|website=www.askaboutireland.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCodAQAAIAAJ&q=Helvick|title=The Irish Naturalists' Journal|date=8 February 1968|publisher=I.N.J. Committee.|via=Google Books}}</ref>
==Lifeboat station== {{main|Helvick Head Lifeboat Station}} The Royal National Lifeboat Institution opened a lifeboat station at Dungarvan in 1859. It was moved to Crow's Point at Helvick in 1899. The station was closed in 1969 but a new inshore lifeboat station was established in 1997. The lifeboat was housed in temporary accommodation until the permanent facilities were ready in 1999.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Leonard |first1=Richie |last2=Denton |first2=Tony |title=Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024|date=2024 |publisher=Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society |page=111}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title =Helvick Head's station history | website = RNLI | url =https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/helvick-head-lifeboat-station/station-history-helvick-head |access-date = 8 December 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Headlands of County Waterford