Aran Islands - Inis Oirr

The rocky, wind-buffeted Aran Islands, off the coast of County Galway, have a desolate beauty. The Aran Islands are 3 isles, guarding the mouth of Galway Bay.  From west to east the islands are Inishmore (Inis Mor, the largest), Inishmaan (Inis Meain, the second largest) and Inisheer (Inis Oirr) is the smallest.  The roughly 1200 inhabitants primarily speak Irish and the islands belong to the Gaeltacht (any primarily Irish-speaking region).
On this trip I was only able to get to Inisheer - but even that little taste has me knowing I’d love to see more of the islands and definitely spend more time!

Inisheer is the smallest and most eastern of the three islands.  It has about 260 permanent residents in five small settlement areas.

The lighthouse on the island

St. Cavan’s Church (or St. Kevin’s Church) is a ruined church, built in the 10th century, at the location of the saint’s grave.  The entrance is now below ground level, as the church was nearly buried by drifting sands; it has now been excavated and is kept clear of sand by the islanders.

O’Brien’s Castle was built in the 14th or 15th century and in 1652 it was captured by Oliver Cromwell’s army during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

Horse-drawn carriages and bicycles are the main methods of getting around

The cargo vessel Plassey was shipwrecked off Inis Oirr on 8 March 1960, and has since been thrown above high tide mark on the island by strong Atlantic waves.  The ship features in the opening credits of the TV show Father Ted.