9 Islands to Explore in Galway

Checkout places to visit in Galway

Galway

County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is in the West of Ireland, taking up the south of the province of Connacht. There are several Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county. The traditional county includes, and is named for, the city of Galway, but the city and county now have separate local authorities: Galway City Council administers the urban area, while the rest of the county is administered by Galway County Council.

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Islands to Explore in Galway

Ardoileán

Ardoileán, is a small island off the northwest coast of Connemara in County Galway, Ireland. It was once the site of an early Irish monastic community. It is one of thirty-odd islands off the west coast of Ireland, between Inishtrahull and Clear Island, which were settled by hermits and monastic communities in the early Christian period.

Gorumna

Gorumna is an island on the west coast of Ireland, forming part of County Galway The Island is linked with the mainland through the Béal an Daingin Bridge. Gorumna properly consists of three individual islands in close proximity, Lettermullen, Teeranea and Lettermore. It is mostly underlain by intrusive Devonian-aged Galway Granite that formed from crustal melting as a result of the Caledonian Orogeny in the late Silurian.

Inchagoill

Inchagoill Island, located midway between Cong and Oughterard, is one of the largest of many wooded islets along Lough Corrib. It has spectacular views of the Maumturk range, Joyce Country and the mountains of Connemara. There also stands the ruins of two ancient churches, both of the small Irish type but of far different styles and dates.

Inis Ní

The small island of Inishnee in Roundstone Bay is connected to the mainland by a narrow bridge and is a wonderfully unique destination. The island is equipped with a lighthouse. As of 2011, it had a population of 43.

Inisbofin

Inishbofin is a small island off the coast of Connemara, which was home to “Dún Gráinne”, the remains of a fort used by the legendary Pirate Queen, Grace O'Malley. It's some 5.5 km long by 3 km wide and has a population of 175. It's low-lying and treeless, with heathland sprayed by the sea. It is a great tourist destination and it attracts a lot of tourists to enjoy the beauty of this area.

Inishark

Inishark sometimes called Shark Island, is a small island neighbouring the larger Inishbofin in County Galway, Ireland. Inishark is situated northeast of Shark Head, north of Black Rock. The island was occupied for thousands of years and has many Bronze Age sites such as burial grounds and monuments. The island is now uninhabited; the last 23 inhabitants of this former isolated fishing and farming community were evacuated on the 20th of October 1960.

Inishbofin

Inishbofin is a small island off the coast of Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. The island is 5.7km by 4km. The main activities on the island today are tourism, farming and fishing. The island is a breeding area for many species of birds. Inishbofin is home to “Dún Gráinne”, the remains of a fort used by the legendary Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley.

Inishmaan

Inishmaan is the middle of the three main Aran Islands in Galway Bay on the west coast of Ireland. It is part of County Galway in the province of Connacht. Inishmaan has a population of about 183, making it the smallest of the Aran Islands in terms of population. It is one of the most important strongholds of traditional Irish culture. The island is predominantly Irish-speaking and part of the Gaeltacht, though all inhabitants have knowledge of English.

Omey Island

Omey Island is a tidal island near Claddaghduff on the western edge of the Connemara region in Galway. It is a magical place only 600 metres offshore, nestled beneath the projecting prow of the Aughrus peninsula and sheltered from the worst of the Atlantic swells by the islands of An Cruach. It is possible to drive or walk across a large sandy strand to the island by following the arrowed signs. At high tide, the water is deep enough to cover a car.

Map of Islands to explore in Galway