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Inis Mór
Introduction
The Island's peace and tranquillity envelop body and soul like a
soothing balm. Traffic jams are a distant memory and quiet
winding byways lead you to all corners of the island.
Inis Mór is the largest of the three islands. Its principal
port and village is Kilronan (Cill Rónáin), its population of
900 is spread over 14 communities.
Transport
The choice of locomotion is bicycle, minibus or pony & trap.
Leisure
Bask on sandy beaches (safe for bathing) or sail boarding and
boating are other options. Deep sea angling and rock fishing
attract many tourists. Island pubs are legendary for
conviviality and "The Craic". Traditional music sessions are
more often spontaneous than formally organised. Céilís (old
style dance) are held in the parish hall. Inis Mór is an
ornithological and herbaceous paradise.
Historical Sites
Include 'Teampall Bheanáin', 'Teaghlach Éinne', the
puffing holes, 'Dún Dúchathair', 'Teampall an Cheathrar Álainn',
stone monuments, 'Poll na bPéist', 'Na Seacht dTeampall', as
well as the world famous 'Dún Aonghasa'. This is a very large
and impressive stone fort, standing on a cliff top, almost 300ft
above sea level. It is in the hill fort tradition and consists
of four sets of dry-stone walls and a defensive feature known as
"cheveaux de frise" - bands of stone, standing on edge.
It is claimed the fort was built by the 'Fir Bolg' (who were
a pre-historic tribe) and their leader Aonghas. Recent
excavation, by the Discovery programme, has produced evidence of
activity on the site from the late Bronze Age (between 1000 &
700 BC) until early Christian times (around the 5th Century AD).
Evidence of habitation in the late Bronze Age includes traces of
hut and hearth sites, a stone trough and a range of domestic
material. The fort was strengthened and extended from time to
time. It is likely that there was a protective wall on the sea
side.
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Inis Meáin
Introduction
Inis Meáin is the middle island between Inis Mór and Inis Oírr.
It is approx. 5km long and 2.5km wide. Population is approx. 225
people.
Leisure
Inis Meáin has two main pubs, which usually provide traditional
music during the summer months. There are various festivals
during the summer. "The Galway Hooker Festival" (as in the
traditional sail boat!) in June, and "The Synge Weekend", which
is in August.
Historical Sites
Dún
Fearbhaí
This stone fort of the 1st-7th centuries A.D., or perhaps
earlier, is unusual in being almost square, instead of circular.
The terraces along the inside of the walls may have been for
defenders to look over or for some ceremonial purpose. It is
easy to climb on top of the wall, and worth it for the fine view
of the low-lying northern part of the island.
Dún Chonchúir
This is a large oval fort dating around 1st-7th Century A.D. by
Conchúir brother of Aengus of the 'Fir Bolg', on the highest
point on the Synge.
Cill
Cheannannach
The name may mean "Church of Canons" or may refer to St. Gregory
'Ceannfhionnadh', the fair-headed. The church is a typical
8th-9th century stone building, and is complete except for the
roof, which must have been wood-framed. It is surrounded by
grave slabs and it was here that the island buried its people
until fifty years ago. 'Cathaoir Synge (Synge's Chair)' was
where the writer John Millington Synge spent many a day writing.
It has superb views across the sound to the cliffs on the south
east corner of Inis Mór, and the big seas rolling in from
America.
Teampall na
Seacht Mac Rí
(Church of the seven sons). Very little remains of this early
church. By the south door is the grave of Saint Cinndearg.
Nearby is the holy well, 'Tobar Chinndeirge'. This used to be a
famous place of pilgrimage for all of Connaught. "The
Stations" are still held here on the 15th of August.
Uamhain
Ghríora
(Gregory's cave). Located on the beach facing the island of
Inis Mór, the sea between Inis Meáin and Inis Mór is known as
"The Gregory Sound". Legend has it that St. Gregory spent a lot
of time in this cave.
Flora & Fauna
Inis Oírr shares the same rich plant and flora species as the
famous "Burren Region" in Co. Clare. The island holds
many interests for ornithologists, botanists and those that have
an inclination for the wonders of the sea.
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Inis Oírr
Introduction
Inis Oírr is the smallest of the three islands. The island is
approx. 3.2km by 3.2km. The population of Inis Oírr is approx
300.
Leisure
Inis Oírr has three pubs including the hotel pub. There is music
to be heard in all of these during the summer months. Céilí
dancing is also organised in the local hall. Inis Oírr has an
island museum and a craft shop which are open daily. There is
usually a festival in August of each year, which consists of
'Currach (small canvas boats)' racing, "Galway Hooker" racing
and other enjoyable activities.
Historical Sites
Caislean Uí Bhriain and Dún Fhormna
The castle is a three storey tower-house, probably built by the
O'Brien family who owned the island up to 1585. It is built
within a "Cashel", perhaps dating to the early centuries A.D.
Cill Ghobnait
This small (8th or 9th Century?) church, nestling against a
protective cliff, is dedicated to Saint Gobnet of Ballyvourney
in Co. Cork, who is believed to have fled to Inis Oírr for
safety from enemies on the mainland.
Teampall Chaomháin
This is the patron saint of Inis Oírr and his festival is
celebrated on the 14th of June each year. The church ruins
dating from the 10th - 14th centuries were buried under the
ever-blowing sand, and have to be dug out regularly. At the
graveyard entrance, the mass of shells is a kitchen of early
Christian or Medieval date.
Tobar Éinne
The holy well of St. Enda, the patron saint of Inis Mór, who is
reputed to have lived in a clochán (beehive hut) nearby, of
which hardly anything now remains. This well is greatly revered
by the islanders.
The Plassey
Wreck
In a dramatic demonstration of the power of the Atlantic Storms,
"The Plassey" which was wrecked in 1960 (without loss of life)
on 'Carraig na Finnise' Reef, was later thrown up on the rocks
well above high tide mark.
Inis Mór
An ceann is mó d’Oileáin Árann. Stair spéisiúil
Is é Árainn an t-oileán is mó agus is mó forbartha de chuid Oileáin Árann agus chomh maith le stair spéisiúil tá áiseanna den scoth ann agus saol sóisialta bríomhar san oíche. Tá an t-oileán clúdaithe le haolchloch scaoilteánach agus le breacachan páirceanna, agus is féidir dul ag siúl, ag rothaíocht nó ag marcaíocht trí na lánaí beaga le teacht ar shéadchomhartha cáiliúil an oileáin, Dún Aonghusa. Is ceann de na lonnaíochtaí réamhstaire is cáiliúla agus is tábhachtaí san Eoraip é an dún cloiche leath-chiorclach seo atá suite go feiceálach 100m os cionn na farraige.
In áiteanna eile ar fud an oileáin tá dúin chiorclacha, iarsmaí ó thús na Críostaíochta, ardchrois ón 12ú aois agus séipéil meánaoiseacha.
Tugann an t-ionad oidhreachta, Ionad Árann, léargas fíor-shuimiúil ar stair an oileáin, ag léiriú shaol agus thraidisiúin mhuintir Árann. Mar sin féin, tá na traidisiúin fós beo anseo agus is cuid den ghnáthsaol iad seisiúin ceoil, céilithe, scéalaíocht agus rásaí curach. Is cuma céard a dhéanfaidh tú; siúl trí lánaí faoi bhláth, faire na rónta, do scíth a ligean ar an trá, nó cuairt a thabhairt ar Ionad Árann, titfidh tú i ngrá leis na daoine, leis an gcultúr agus le hoidhreacht an oileáin iontaigh seo.
BUAICPHOINTÍ
Dúnfort agus ionad cuairteora Dhún Aonghusa; Na Seacht dTeampall; Ragús – taispeántas den scoth de cheol, amhránaíocht agus damhsa Gaelach; flóra agus fána; ceol beo.
PRÍOMHGHNÍOMHAÍOCHTAÍ
Siúl, rothaíocht, snámh, marcaíocht capall, tumadóireacht, déanamh ciseán, Foghlaim na Gaeilge agus cúrsaí cultúir.
Inis Meáin
An ceann is ciúine d’Oileáin Árann
An ceann is ciúine d’Oileáin Árann, ar a mbíonn an líon is lú cuairteoirí, is féidir éalú ar fad ón saol nua-aimseartha ar Inis Meáin, áit a bhfuil áilleacht, traidisiún agus cultúr chomh maith le tírdhreach creagach. Tá lúbra bóithre cúnga casta, cosán fothana agus rianta ar fud an oileáin, ó chnoic charraigeacha an deiscirt go dtí tránna folamha an tuaiscirt. Tá bláthanna fiáine go fairsing ann agus feictear mórán samplaí de luath lonnaíochtaí ar fud na haolchloiche carstaí.
Tá dún ubhchruthach iontach Dhún Chonchúir anseo, chomh maith le Cill Cheanainn álainn agus séipéal
Muire gan Smál, ina bhfuil fuinneoga gloine dhaite galánta ó Harry Clarke Studios a bhfuil clú agus cáil orthu. In aice láimhe tá Teach Synge, an teachín athchóirithe inar chónaigh an scríbhneoir John Millington Synge, fear a raibh an-chion aige ar an oileán.
Tá ionad tumadóireachta ar an oileán freisin, áit ar féidir snámh sna huiscí glana agus dul sa tóir ar an iliomad beatha mara amach ón gcósta, and cúrsaí cáiliúla Gaeilge agus cultúir, áit ar féidir leat foghlaim faoi stair agus thraidisiúin an oileáin, ó cheol, scéalaíocht agus filíocht go dtí damhsa seite agus comhshaol.
BUAICPHOINTÍ
Dún Chonchúir; Teach Synge; Séipéal Muire gan Smál; Cill Cheanainn.
PRÍOMHGHNÍOMHAÍOCHTAÍ
Siúl, rothaíocht, ionad tumadóireachta, ceol, teanga agus staidéir chultúrtha agus saoirí gníomhaíochta.
Inis Oírr
An ceann is lú d’Oileáin Árann agus clú agus cáil air
Is é Inis Oírr an ceann is lú agus an ceann is faide soir d’Oileáin Árann. Tá an áit suaimhneach agus an-oiriúnach do mhachnamh agus do shiúlóidí ciúine. Tá an t-oileáin chomh beag sin is gur féidir é ar fad a shiúl agus is furasta a cheapadh nach bhfuil san áit ach tú féin.
Is dócha go bhfuil daoine ina gcónaí ar an oileán le 5,000 bliain ach is é Cnoc Raithní, dumha adhlactha Cré-Umhaoise a bhfuil an dáta 1500BC luaite leis an cruthúnas is luaithe de dhaoine ar an oileán. Tá Teampall Chaomhán i ngar, séipéal meánaoise a bhfuil a leath sáite sa ghaineamh, agus Caisleán Uí Bhríain, túrtheach trí stór ón 16 haois a tógadh laistigh de dhún Chlochaoise. Tá tránna órga ó thuaidh ar an oileán áit a bhfuil sé sábháilte a bheith ag snámh agus a bhfuil radharcanna áille de Chonamara le feiceáil agus tá longbhriste chomh maith le radharcanna breátha d’Aillte an Mhothair agus den Bhoirinn ar chladach thoir an oileáin.
Tá ionad ealaíon agus cultúir, Áras Éanna, ar an oileán freisin, áit ar féidir freastal ar cheardlanna, taispeántais a fheiceáil agus foghlaim faoin gcultúr traidisiúnta. Téigh chuig www.araseanna.ie.
D’fhéadfá rásaí na gcurach traidisiúnta a fheiceáil má bhíonn tú ar cuairt i mí Lúnasa.
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