Clare Island

Clare Island from Clew Bay

Clare Island in Ireland

Islands off County Mayo
Click for larger view

Clare Island (Oileán Chliara in Irish) is a mountainous island guarding the entrance to Clew Bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It is famous as the home of the pirate queen, Grace O'Malley. Approximately 125 people live there today.

Geographical stats:

• Area (approx): 16 km² (10 mi²)
• Highest point: 462 metres (1515 ft)
• Latitude/Longitude: 53°48′18″N 9°59′37″W / 53.805°N 9.99361°W / 53.805; -9.99361

History

Through the Middle Ages, Clare Island was part of the lands of the O' Malley family. The ruins of an O'Malley tower-house, known as Grace O' Malley's castle because of its most famous resident, are close to the pier at the eastern edge of the island. The small Cistercian Abbey near the south coast of the island was founded by the O'Malleys and contains the O'Malley Tomb, a possible burial site of Grace O'Malley. The Abbey is known for its rare medieval roof paintings. In 1588 a ship from the Spanish Armada was wrecked on Clare Island and its men were killed by the O' Malleys.

This is the optic from the inside of the Clare Island lighthouse which is now on permanent rotating display at the gift shop of The World of Glass, St. Helens, UK.

A very prominent landmark of the island is the Clare Island Lighthouse, established by John Denis Browne, the 1^st Marquess of Sligo, in 1806. On 29 September 1813 a fire, caused by careless disposal of the oil-lamp wicks, destroyed part of the tower and the lantern. The rebuilt light was ready in 1818. In 1834 the tower was struck by lightning. The cylindrical masonry lighthouse tower is 118 metres (387 ft) tall and 11 metres (36 ft) across. After 159 years of faithful service the lighthouse was taken out of service on 28 September 1965, replaced by the modern Achillbeg Island lighthouse on the south side of Achill Island.

Fauna and Flora

Between 1909 and 1911, the Belfast naturalist Robert Lloyd Praeger led an exhaustive biological survey of the island (the Clare Island Survey, which was unprecedented at the time and served as a template for future studies.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Clare Island is accessible by daily ferry services from Roonagh Pier near Louisburgh. The island has a hotel, a few bed and breakfasts and a yoga and meditation centre. Maps are available for walkers and hill-walkers. The island is also suitable for exploration by bicycle. The island has its own primary school and a post office. Children go to the mainland for post-primary (secondary school) education.

Culture

The island also features in a famous song by the Irish folk-rock band, the Saw Doctors from their 1996 album, Same Oul Town. In the song, the band immortalise the island. It is described as a haven from hectic city life.

References

Further reading

• Guiry, M.D., John, D.M., Rindi, F. and McCarthy, T.K. (Edited) 2007. - New Survey of Clare Island. Volume 6: The Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae. - Royal Irish Academy. - ISBN 1904890317

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Clare Island

• Information site on Clare Island, updated regularly by an islander