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Ciaran Connolly
Ciaran Connolly
Ireland is well known for its outdoor activities, incredible landscapes, and multiple islands that will take your breath away. The Irish Islands are beautiful and will delight all visitors. Here is a list of the ten best Islands off the Coast of Ireland you need to visit.
Table of Contents
1. Great Blasket Island, County Kerry
Great Blasket Island is the largest Irish island in the Blasket Islands archipelago, which comprises six islands on the Dingle Peninsula’s western side in County Kerry. Most of these islands were once inhabited but abandoned in 1953 after a government decision deemed the living conditions too tricky. The island of Great Blasket was the last archipelago island to be inhabited.
It is renowned for its flora and fauna, deserted houses, and accessibility by ferry from Dingle town. For experienced hikers, you can walk the An Cró Mór, the island’s highest point (292 meters). If you visit this island in County Kerry, stop and see the Wild Atlantic Way!
2. Arranmore Island, County Donegal
Arranmore Island is the largest populated island in County Donegal and the second largest in Ireland, with over 500 inhabitants. It is not well known because it is much less touristy than the other Irish islands. Nevertheless, it is rich in heritage, and the local inhabitants are very attached to their traditions. Arranmore is also part of the Gaeltacht, where the Irish speak Irish Gaelic and live in traditional houses. From mainland Ireland, you can admire spectacular views of the island from the sea. The island is approximately 22 km long and is at the top of an incredible panorama of the Donegal coasts.
You can take the ferry from the coast to reach Arranmore. Arranmore Island has great wilderness, lakes, and peat moss. It is endowed with an exceptional wild landscape to discover. Several routes can be made by car along the dirt roads, or you can explore the island on foot.
3. Achill Island, County Mayo
Achill Island in County Mayo is Ireland’s largest island and lies off the west coast of Ireland. The first men arrived on Achill Island 5,000 years ago during the Neolithic period. The island then saw the arrival of Christianity and later the reign of the pirate queen, Grace O’Malley. The English occupation followed the Great Famine and the decline of transhumance and their way of life.
Achill Island has a population of 2,700 today and is accessible by bridge. It offers fabulous landscapes, including its rugged coastline, magnificent beaches, deserted moor, green hills, and mountains, which provide extraordinary views. We recommend you visit the Croaghaun cliff, which is fantastic, as well as its beaches with turquoise waters, like Keem Beach.
4. Cape Clear Island, County Cork
Cape Clear Island is an Irish island located southwest of County Cork in the Gaeltacht region. The population speaks mainly Irish Gaelic. This island is the southernmost inhabited part of Ireland, with a population of around 100 people. It is an ideal destination for tourists who wish to immerse themselves in Gaeltacht culture and its rich heritage.
The island is accessible by ferry and offers exceptional views and must-see places: a prehistoric stone, an impressive Neolithic tomb passing through Cill Leire Forabhain, a Celtic cross dating from the Iron Age located on Croha West, a prehistoric tumulus on Comilane, and many others.
5. Aran Islands, County Galway
The Aran Islands are Ireland’s most famous island, with around 1,200 inhabitants. They are three rocky islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay in the west of Ireland. Located 18 km from the west coast of Ireland, these islands are renowned for their ancient sites, housing the oldest archaeological remains of Ireland, the people’s time-honoured traditions, and their uniquely oceanic rugged beauty.
The Aran Islands are accessible by ferry and include a few must-see tourist sites: Fort Dun Aengus, Teampull Bheanáin Church and 14th-century O’Brien Castle. Initially, the famous Aran sweater, or Irish sweater, made from local virgin wool, was born on the Aran Islands.
6. Garnish Island, County Cork
Garnish Island is a beautiful island in Glengarriff Harbor on the Beara Peninsula. It is a heavenly place known for its beautiful gardens and is home to a small colony of wild seals. Visitors can relax and explore nature creatively in the interactive sculpture gardens while enjoying the beautiful flowers, trees, and birds. It is a place of tranquillity and escape.
7. Dursey Island, County Cork
Dursey Island is located at the southwestern tip of the Beara Peninsula in County Cork. It is an island without shops or restaurants, but its landscapes are exceptional. Dursey Island is 6.5km long and 1.5km wide. Separated from the rest of Ireland by an inlet called “The Dursey Sound”, the island is connected by a cable car, the only cable car to cross open sea water in Europe. This island is, therefore, an attraction for tourists to enjoy the cable car, an incredible view of the ocean and enriching archaeological sites.
8. Skellig Islands, County Kerry
The Skellig Islands are two rocks 8 miles off the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. It is one of the most beautiful archipelagos in Ireland, with some of Ireland’s most famous islands, thanks mainly to Star Wars, which used the Skelligs as a filming location.
The two islands of the archipelago are Skellig Michael and Little Skellig. Considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Skellig Michael is the largest and wildest island in the Skellig, known for its impressive black rocky outcrop that rises to 218 meters. On this island, you can admire the beautiful buildings still intact where monks once lived. These monks mainly fished and left Skellig Michael in the 13th century, abandoning their churches and huts. Unlike Skellig Michael, Little Skellig has never been inhabited. It offers exceptional flora, fauna, and wild and spectacular views.
9. Tory Island, County Donegal
Tory Island is a small island off the coast of County Donegal in northwest Ireland. It is located in the Gaeltacht area, and the Gaelic language is widely used on the island. Just 4km long and 2km wide, Tory Island is inhabited by less than 200 residents, who make a living from fishing and tourism. Painting and art are unique assets of the island. We recommend visiting the island village, including its schools, homes, and shops.
10. Innisfree Island, County Sligo
Innisfree is a small, uninhabited island in Lough Gill, just outside the town of Sligo. Lough Gill is a lake located near the town of Sligo. A beautiful footbridge accesses Innisfree Island and offers some great hiking trails. Innisfree was the birthplace of William Butler Yeats, a prominent Irish writer from Sligo who wrote the poem Lake Isle of Innisfree, which honours the sweetness and tranquillity of the island.
