Galway – Inis Oírr, Inisheerby Pamela de Brí

The smallest of the Aran Islands, Inis Oírr has a population of around 340 (2022). A burial site on the island dates back to 1500BC. Caomhán, reputedly the brother of Kevin (Caomhín) of Glendalough, is the patron saint of the island. His church was nearly completely buried by drifting sands and is regularly cleaned out by the islanders for his feast day on June 14th. In the Middle Ages, the island was ruled by the O’Brien clan, the remains of whose 14th-century castle are sited near the island’s highest point. In 1960 a cargo vessel the Plassey was shipwrecked off Inis Oírr. The islanders rescued the crew. The wreck features in the opening credits of the TV show Father Ted. Irish is spoken on the island.