Islands of Ireland: Connemara and Mayo

There are three islands that comprise the Aran Islands, Ireland’s most famous west coast islands after Skellig Michael. The largest is Inishmore, the middle island is Inish Maan, and the final island is Inisheer.

Inishmore

How to get there: Ferry from Rossaveel or Doolin
Island Size: 14 km (8 miles) by 3.8 km (2 miles)
Island Population: 762

The favourite choice for most visitors, Inishmore is the largest of the Aran Islands. There are a number of ancient forts on the island built in the distant past. The most famous fort is Dún Aengus, a semi-circular stone fort from the Bonze Age perched precariously on a 100-meter cliff edge. Another renowned site on Inishmore is the Wormhole (or Poll na bPeist), an impressive natural pool once used for Redbull cliff-diving competitions. Food lovers will love to meet Gabriel and his goats and taste the delicious island goat cheese.

Inishmaan

How to get there: Ferry from Rossaveel or Doolin
Island Size: 4 km (2.5 miles) by 2.5 km (1.5 miles)
Island Population: 180-200

The middle island, Inishmaan (Inis Meáin in Irish) is a bastion of Irish tradition. First settled about 7,000 years ago, the Aran Islands have since been home to centuries of settlers, each leaving an imprint of their history, heritage and tradition. While on Inish Maan, hike quiet roads and meandering trails, perhaps picking up some Irish in the local village pubs. The island’s most famous resident was John Millington Synge, an Irish playwright and writer who claimed inspiration from the Aran Islands. Visitors can still visit the Teach Synge or the cottage he stayed in each summer from 1898 to 1902.

Inisheer

How to get there: Ferry from Doolin
Island size: 3 km (1.8 miles) by 2 km (1.2 miles)
Island Population: 280-300

Inisheer is the smallest of the Aran Islands and is also the quietest. Just 15 minutes from Doolin village by ferry, Inisheer is small but charming. Perhaps most famous for the Plassey Shipwreck, a rusting behemoth that washed ashore in 1960, the shipwreck makes for a very cool photo opportunity. A black and white striped lighthouse sits on one end of the island, and like the other two islands, Inisheer is home to a number of ruins from across the centuries.

If you have the time, we recommend that you visit all three islands, particularly staying overnight on at least one of them to get the full island experience. If you’re interested in Irish tradition, music and language, the Aran Islands are the place to immerse yourself in Irish heritage and experience this yourself.

Want to know more about these incredible islands and the people who live here? Watch our Aran Islands video to get the insider’s experience.

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How to get there: Béal an Daingin Bridge
Islands: Lettermullen, Teeranea and Lettermore
Island Population: 1,055

Like Achill Island, Gorumna Island is connected to the mainland with a bridge. About a thousand people still live on the three islands that make up Gorumna (Lettermullen, Teeranea and Lettermore). Few visitors make their way to this corner of Ireland, meaning that anyone who does visit will likely have Gorumna to themselves.

A gentle trail meanders along a series of local laneways and sandy paths, which eventually winds past Trawbaun Graveyard with its neatly-preserved medieval church. Along Greatman’s Bay, find coral beaches and rocky foreshores, as well the views of Connemara’s Mamturk and Twelve Bens mountain ranges that take your breath away.

How to get there: Michael Davitt Bridge between Polranny and Achill Sound
Island Size: Area is 148 km² (57 sq mi)
Island Population: 2,569

The largest island on Ireland’s west coast (and Ireland in general), Achill is also the only one you can reach via a bridge. About 2,500 people live on this island. In theory, this seems like Achill Island should be the west coast’s most accessible and top-visited island, but in practice, Co Mayo is remote and vast. Many visitors don’t make the journey along Mayo’s wild coastline all the way to Achill Island.

The island is home to arguably Ireland’s highest sea cliffs – the Croaghaun sea cliffs (688 metres or 2,257 ft) are similar in height to Slieve League in Donegal, though hikers should be aware that the Croaghaun cliffs are more challenging to reach.

Achill has a varied history. Once part of the coastline ruled by 16th-century pirate queen Grace O’Malley, one of her many tower house castles still sits on the island’s shores. Achill Island is the perfect combination of wild and cosy. There are a few villages on the island with numerous cafes, bars, restaurants, and shops and their streets are bustling with activity. But drive a short distance away and you suddenly find yourself on a hidden beach or quiet hilltop.

One of the most evocative images of Achill Island is the so-called “deserted village,” a cluster of 80-100 crumbling ruins of simple stone cottages. The vestiges of a traditional agricultural practice known as “booleying,” these cottages were once inhabited by the residents of the nearby village during the summer months to graze the cattle. As that practice has died out, so did the seasonally-inhabited village.

Achill Island is the terminus of Ireland’s best-known greenway – the Great Western Greenway is a 44km car-free path from the town of Westport to Achill Island.

How to get there: Ferry from Roonagh Quay
Island Size: 5 km (3 miles) by 2.5 km (1.5 miles)
Island Population: 51

About 15 kilometres (nine miles) off the coast of  Mayo, Inisturk is one of Ireland’s most underrated islands. It is tiny – just 5km long and 2.5km wide. It’s only since the 1990s that the island has a ferry service – and only since the 1980s that the island had paved roads, for that matter. A lot has changed in a generation or two.

But tiny though it may be, Inisturk is pretty spectacular. It has wall-like cliffs on the northwest corner that fall sharply into the Atlantic Ocean. At the northern end of the island, a steep slope houses a Napoleonic signal tower almost 700m above sea level. The jaw-dropping view is well worth the walk.

As with other west coast islands, birdwatching opportunities abound on Inisturk. The cliffs are like magnets to seabirds who find sanctuary on the cliffs. There are ruins of an Iron Age promontory fort and a natural lagoon. This is a great island to visit for anyone looking to visit an inhabited island while still getting off the beaten path.