If you're struggling to decide where to go on your holidays this year, getting to know some of the country's most rugged, breathtaking islands should be on everyone's bucketlist.
Most of the Gaeltacht regions in Ireland are situated in the West and are remote, wild places with breathtaking views and are rich in cultural traditions and their own dialects of Irish. The islands are an extension of the Gaeltacht regions but have their own identities, cultural practices and of course words and dialects.
Not all Gaeltacht islands are currently inhabited but most of them have had islanders live on them despite the difficult conditions until a certain point when emigration to the main island or indeed to other countries became their fate.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Art and expression are an important part of the islands and the forms of this expression varies from island to island, from Aran jumpers on na hOileáin Árann to the literary legacy on Na Blascaodaí, and Oileán Thoraí's style of painting, the islanders were industrious, accomplished people.
Baineann ealaíon go smior le féiniúlacht na n-oileán seo agus athraíonn an cultúr seo ó oileán go hoileán, ó gheansaithe olainn in Árainn go traidisiún saibhir na litríochta ar an mBlascaod agus péintéireacht ar Oileán Thoraí daoine ab ea na hoileánaigh a bhí tionscantach agus inniúil.
If you're planning a visit to one or more of these rugged islands, here are a few of my favourite:
Inis Oírr
One of the three Oileáin Árann which are situated off the West Coast of Ireland, Inis Oírr is the smallest of the trinity, Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr. The islands have recently experienced more exposure thanks to award-winning Banshees of Inisheerin being filmed on Inis Mór and the cast and crew waxing lyrical about the place.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
I love Inis Oírr for its crystal clear water and its stone walls, and of course the islanders themselves. Those who don't speak Irish have said they've found the dialect spoken on Inis Oírr to be one of the easiest to understand.
How to get there:
Most tourists hop on one of the frequent ferries from either Doolin in County Clare or Ros a 'Mhíl in Conamara. You can also fly from Conamara to Inis Oírr and experience the beauty of the islands in the most compact of aeroplanes. When you get there, renting a bike is a wonderful way to get to know the island.
There is lots of accommodation on the island to stay a while or you can return on the ferry or on the flight if a day trip is enough for you.
Is féidir fanacht thar oíche ar an oileán nó filleadh ar an lá céanna ar an mbád farantóireachta más leor cuairt lae duit.
An Blascaod Mór
Located off the coast of West Kerry, An Blascaod Mór is now uninhabited except for the lucky people who are employed to look after a number of holiday homes which are available for rent on the island. The island was abandoned in 1953 by those who had been living under very challenging conditions with no running water or electricity. The islanders have left behind them an exceptionally rich literary legacy which reflects who they were and how they lived, as a community, getting by, as the seanfhocal says, 'ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine'.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
How to get there:
Ferries leave from Dún Chaoin daily and the trip to the island takes approximately 20 minutes. The OPW provide daily tours of the island for those who want to know about this special place and its people.
You can camp on the island or you can stay in restored island cottages but be warned, this isn't a boujee one, there is running water but there is no electricity.
Oileán Thoraí
One of the country's most isolated islands is nine miles off the coast of North West Donegal and is still inhabited. Oileán Thoraí is home to its own style of art and its own particular identity, expressed in language and song.
Many birdwatchers visit Toraigh to catch a glimpse of some rare species of birds which are not found in any other places in Ireland, including the corncrake.
How to get there:
Daily ferry trips go from Machaire Rabhartaigh in Donegal and the journey takes 45 minutes and can be rough.
You can stay on the island in local accommodation or camp on the island.
Tá go leor, leor oileán eile timpeall na tíre ar fiú cuairt a thabhairt orthu ó Chorcaigh go Dún na nGall agus is deis iontach iad na cuairteanna seo le triail a bhaint as do chuid Gaeilge orthu!
Tuilleadh eolais ar bhealaí taistil:
