Why so Many Offshore Islands in Ireland?

How Many Islands off Ireland?
Ireland faces into the Atlantic Ocean and over millennia many small pieces of land have become separated from the main island, especially on the west coast. There are 280 islands in total off Ireland’s coast and while many smaller ones are uninhabited a good number still have vibrant communities living on them.
Some of the larger islands such as Achill and Valentia have been joined to the mainland by bridges. Some such as Fota and Little Island in Cork and Cruit Island in Donegal almost appear to be part of the mainland as bridges and causeways link them the short distance to the mainland. Many others have regular ferry access to them but the unpopulated islands are usually more difficult to reach. The Aran Islands have regular daily flights to the islands from Galway. The main islands of Ireland to visit are listed below with details of those you can reach by ferry or bridge. Occasionally a small uninhabited island becomes available to buy to live on but you’ll need your own boat to connect with the mainland. Details of populations of the islands have changed over time.

Do People live on Ireland’s Islands?
Ireland’s islands have been inhabited at least from medieval times with Skellig Michael in Co Kerry being a UNESCO World Heritage Site and more recently made famous by the Star Wars film. Monks used to live there as hermits in stone-built beehive huts as they did on other islands such as Bishop Island in Co Clare. Monastic settlements are to be found from Sherkin Island in Cork to Tory Island in Donegal as the monks and friars often felt safer on islands. Forts were built on many islands from the 16th century onwards, with Spike Island being one of the most famous. Castles were built on some islands and Grace O’Malley’s fortresses on Clare Island and Achill Island still stand. From the 1820s lighthouses were built on many headlands and islands to guide mariners. Fastnet Lighthouse has located 9 km into the Atlantic off the southwest coast of Co Cork and there are also lighthouses on Skellig Michael, Kerry, Clare Island, Mayo, and Tory Island, Donegal.

Irish Langauge, Music, Culture?
The isolation of the islands has helped preserve the Irish language and culture in some of the western ones. Cape Clear in Cork, the Aran Islands, and Tory in Donegal still see Irish in use as the language of everyday conversation and trade amongst the locals. Traditional music, art, and heritage are highly valued on many of the islands.
The Blasket Islands in Kerry were famous for the local writers who lived on the main island early in the last century and described life there in their writings. Many of the island residents emigrated to Springfield, Massachusetts over the years and the remaining residents were relocated to the mainland in 1953. You can visit the Blasket Islands on a day trip and walk the island paths. Ireland’s only cable car links Dursey Island on the Beara Peninsula to the mainland.

VISIT THE ISLANDS?
Tourism is the main industry on many islands, such as the Arans in Galway which people visit for insights into local life and to view the amazing Dun Aengus fort on Inis Mor. Artisan food production and knitwear are also important. Aranmore in Donegal is one of many islands where a co-operative co-ordinates the marketing and sale of island goods for the benefit of the community. Though most inhabited islands are accessible by ferry the Aran Islands can also be reached by small plane.
The national organization Udarás na Gaeltachta supports Gaeltacht or Irish-speaking areas and the islands have been supported by Chomhdáil na n’Óileáin (Islands Co-operative) which aims to make the islands more economically viable. Children normally have primary education on the island and go to the mainland for second-level education. With the arrival of the Internet a second-level school on Inis Mór (Aran Islands) allows students to link into classes in schools on the mainland, getting access to more subjects

Accommodation on islands is available in hostels, holiday homes, and glamping or pod sites as there is a limited selection of hotels on most islands. There are great experiences and activities detailed in the island blogs and linked to what Activity Days Ireland can offer. If you have a specific requirement send us a request form. Make a plan of which islands to visit and enjoy the local culture and relaxed lifestyle. Experience the music, language, and culture as well as the spectacular scenery.
List of Islands to Visit in Ireland
County/Region | Names of Islands | Bridge or Causeway | Ferry | Lighthouse | Activity or Experience |
East Cork | Ballycotton Island | * | * | ||
Cork Harbour | Great Island Fota Island Haulbowline Island Rocky Island Little Island | * * * * * | |||
Spike Island | * | ||||
West Cork | Inchydoney Island Inishbeg | * * | |||
Carberys Hundred Islands include Long , Horse, Calf, Skeem, Spanish, Manin, Rabbit, | |||||
Fastnet Rock Cape Clear Sherkin Island Hare Island Whiddy Island Garnish Island Bere Island | * * * * * * * * * | * | * Tour * Boat Trip * Ferry * * Island Sailing * Walking Garden * | ||
Dursey Island | * | * Cable Car | |||
Carbery’s Hundred Islands off Skibbereen | * | * | |||
Kerry | Tarbert Rossmore Island | * * | |||
Skellig Islands Great Blasket Island Rossdohan Island, Kenmare Bay Abbey Island, Caherdaniel | * * | * | * Boat Trip * Island Walk | ||
Inishnabro Inishvickillane Inish Tuaisceart (Fear Marbh/ Dead Man Island) Scarriff Island Deenish Island | |||||
Foynes Island Aughnish Island | * * | Shipping Industrial | |||
Clare | Inishmore Irishmaan Inisheer | * * * | * | * Tour * Tour * TOur | |
Mutton Island Scattery Island | * | * | |||
Galway | Mutton Island Inishark Inishbofin Omey Island Lettermullan – Gorumna – Rossmore Island – Inishmore Irishmaan Inisheer | * * * * | * * * * | * * * * * | |
Mayo | Achill Island Clare Island | * | * | * | * * |
Achill Beg Inishbiggle | * * | ||||
59 Small islands | |||||
Coney (Inishmulchohy) | * | ||||
3 small islands | |||||
Donegal | Tory Inishboffin Gola Cruit Aranmore | * | * * * | ||
30 Small islands | |||||
Northern Ireland | Rathlin Island | * | * | ||
21 Small Island | |||||
Dublin | North Bull Island | * | |||
Ireland’s Eye Lambay Island Dalkey Island | |||||
Wexford | Saltee (Great and Little) | * | |||
Tuscar Rock Lighthouse |
Details in Blogs on:
- The Islands of Cork,
- Islands of the Wild Atlantic Way
- Islands of the East Coast of Ireland
- 10 best islands to visit and why.
We also have a range of blogs on Lighthouses in Ireland.

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