Clare Island

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Clare Island

Clare Island is a great place if you are looking for a holiday, weekend away, a night out or just a day trip – so go on take the ferry out from Roonagh!
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Use to share your experiences and pics from the island! Encapsulated in the Saw Doctors' song ‘Will you meet me on Clare Island?'’, Clare Island is located 3.5 miles off the west coast of County Mayo, Ireland. The ferry crossing from Roonagh Pier takes 20 minutes and there is every chance that you will be accompanied on your journey by a school of dolphins. Clare Island is the largest

(8km long and 5km wide) of the 365 islands in Clew Bay. Famous as the ancestral home of the legendary Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley (Granuaile), she has a population of about 160 people; economic activities include farming, fishing and tourism with numerous other small businesses also supporting a vibrant community. Clare Island’s silhouette is dominated by the giant hump of Knockmore at 461 metres on her western edge and the more gently sloping Knocknaveen to her centre. Her western cliffs are among the most dramatic in Europe and are home to large numbers of nesting sea birds. Once on Clare Island, there is so much to see and do – the island’s rich history, geological and biological landscape (studied in depth in the Clare Island Survey) can be explored on foot, bike or by mini bus. Be sure to take time out to view the Blue Flag Beach, Granuaile’s Castle, the 12th century Cistercian Abbey, the Lighthouse, the Napoleonic Tower and the various Bronze-Age sites. Why not call in and see the Heritage Centre or Ballytoughey Loom? There are also plenty of activities to suit everyone including hiking, cycling, fishing, swimming, boat trips, yoga retreats, weaving courses and a variety of adventure activities. Clare Island plays host to a number of annual festivals and events including the: 10k road race, local theatre group production, Yacht Race, Junior Céilí, Annual Bonfire Beach Party, Annual Football tournament, Snas ar do Bhlas - Irish weekend, Bard Summer School, Regatta, Tall Ship Celebrations, Comhaltas seisiúns, Open Mic Nights, Féile Cheoil, Adventure Race, Film Festival, and Christmas Concert & Market. Clare Island also boasts a rich cultural heritage witnessed through its many craftspeople, artists, musicians and dancers. There are two pubs on the island offering plenty of local craic agus ceol. Accommodation on the island is of a high standard and includes camping, a hostel, the lighthouse, B&B’s and self-catering. Delicious island fare is available from 11 am daily. In the off-season you are advised to check our website for restaurant opening hours. A great place to go if you are looking for a holiday, weekend away, a night out or just a day trip – so go on, take yourself to ! www.clareisland.ie

23/08/2024

📢 Save the date 🐑
Clare Island Ram Fair 2024 takes place on Saturday 14th September. See you there!

09/08/2024

Best of Luck tomorrow Ann & indeed to all swimmers & kayakers as they take on the Atlantic from Roonagh Quay to Clare Island

Please donate what you can here:

https://www.idonate.ie/event/charityswim24

A granny, a community nurse, and a marathon runner, who has swam from Alcatraz in California to San Francisco, is taking the plunge with a 5.3k open sea swim off the Mayo coast this weekend.

09/08/2024

Don’t miss out if this is your thing!

One week left to apply.

Go get it. 🏝️

08/08/2024

Tickets up for grabs for one of Clare Island most pretigious festivals Clare Island Folk Festival

See details below

This August come and meet us on Clare Island for our third annual Folk Festival featuring some of the countries finest folk and traditional acts. This weekend invites locals to experience the excitement of the folk festival and welcomes visitors to explore and enjoy all that our beautiful island has...

08/08/2024

Weekend tickets on sale for Folk Festival 2024 - a brilliant annual event, not to be missed!

07/08/2024

Charity Swim from Roonagh quay to Clare Island takes place this Saturday (10th) from 8.30am.

Best of luck to the hardy swimmers and kayakers crossing from Roonagh to Clare Island.

This swim is raising funds for Louisburgh Order of Malta and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.

Go n-éirí libh 🙌🏻

iDonate.ie Online charity Event Fundraising Roonagh Quay to Clare Island Charity Swim 2024 for Order of Malta Louisburgh

07/08/2024

You cannot get more peaceful or closer to nature than this! A wonderful opportunity.

How would you like to spend two months on Clare Island this autumn?

We are delighted to offer a two-month Clare Island Studio Residency, part of the RHA Studios Programme, through the generosity of a private benefactor.

The successful artist will be in residence on the Co. Mayo island from the 1st October - 30th November this year.

Clare Island is located almost six kilometres off the west coast of County Mayo; the ferry crossing from Roonagh Pier takes approximately 25 minutes.

Application deadline: Friday, 16th August at 4pm.

See rhagallery.ie/residencies-awards/clare-island/clare-island-studio-residency-2024 for full details.

04/08/2024

Grab it quick, it wont last long!

30/07/2024

Did you know…… 🗺️

You can download a map of Clare Island from the clareisland.ie website.

It lists all services available on the island together with contact numbers & locations.
With a click of a button you can access the link below & save it to your phone for reference during your visit.

Let us know in the comments if you found this helpful. 🗺️

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e9583d52cca6a31e9dcce2a/t/6666e4f27e1d493496dbdcd6/1718019316291/Clare+Island+Map+2024.pdf

30/07/2024

It’s that day of the week again.

Grainuaile Comhaltas seisiún in the Clare Island Community Centre, Anchor Bar & Bistro tonight. Craic agus ceoil with fantastic musicians. Don’t forget your dancing shoes.

29/07/2024

Clare Island named as one of the top destinations for Best Walking holidays in Europe 2024.

We agree! Come visit us by taking one of our many ferries with Clare Island Fast Ferries - O Malley's or Clare Island Ferry Co. (O'Grady's) & see some of the most beautiful scenery, hidden beaches & landscape there is in Europe.

Stop off for food & refreshments in Clare Island Community Centre, Anchor Bar & Bistro, The Clare Island Oven or Macalla Farm, Clare Island stone barn cafe.

Take one of the many routes around the island by foot, e-bike with Shoreline Pursuits or bicycle with .

You won’t regret it!

For those who want to burn off some of that breakfast buffet, a walking holiday might be for you. Here's our pick of the best hiking holidays to book this year.

26/07/2024

🌻Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Clare Island Visitor Experience Survey 2024 so far.

If you visit the island this year, please take 2 minutes of your time to leave us some feedback. Feedback is completely confidential & anonymous.

Your feedback will help us focus on areas of improvement to make your future experience better.

QR codes are available in all public areas, on ferries & in all service providers on the island.

We wish you a wonderful stay & look forward to your feedback.

Please use the 🔗 link below to provide your valued feedback. 🌻

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=hDaUEVxf5UyIsWBLCZXn66OCPUmYonpApUq_5DEQJDVURVRTQzJWMUczMEZVR09JN01TOVVDRDdBOS4u&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0E32_ZW3Cl4_xUbTodlwQpTqBTENZWA_0VTa4HSOMJxjJ3XEWz9oPU7C0_aem_LtzZloZKLCerARkkMxYxzA

24/07/2024

Not just for the little ones!
Grab a coffee, let the kids loose while you enjoy the outdoors in this idyllic setting.

23/07/2024

18/07/2024

☀️ Beautiful day in Sunny Clare Island ☀️

18/07/2024

iDonate.ie Online charity Event Fundraising Roonagh Quay to Clare Island Charity Swim 2024 for Order of Malta Louisburgh

17/07/2024

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Well done Alice & Niall

17/07/2024

Are you living or staying in ? Did you know that you can enjoy a day trip to Clare Island with us? 😍😍🚢🚢
Our Achill to Clare Island service is now running for summer giving you the perfect chance to island hop in the west! 😂😎🌊🌊

Book online at https://www.clareislandfastferries.com/ and save 10%

Photo credit to Discover Ireland

Achill Tourism

17/07/2024

16/07/2024

Clare Island Quay had a make over this weekend with a lovely group of islanders coming together to freshen up a busy working pier, slip, exit / entry road & carpark areas.

Didn’t they do a fantastic job? A little effort makes a huge impact.

Well done to all involved 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

16/07/2024

⛷️ Last week we welcomed Achill Activator Walkers, Age Friendly Mayo & Mayo Sports Partnership to the island for an activator workshop & island tour. ⛷️

A great day was had. Thank you for visiting us & bringing the energy.

11/07/2024

Dunno if Throwback Thursdays are still a thing, but we will do one anyways!! 😂
Reminiscing on the past with this picture of Clare Island from the 1900s comment below any changes you notice.

📷.ie

11/07/2024

We are now starting Achill to Clare Island trips on Saturday ⛴️

Starting this Saturday, July 13th! Now we have 3 days of return trips to Achill every week 🙌🏼

Every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 😁

You can come and explore Clare Island for the day or now you can even come on Saturday for the night with the option of returning back to Achill on Sunday 🤩

To get more information and to book tickets online (booking is essential) please visit www.clareislandferry.com

11/07/2024

***ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT***
Delighted to have the wonderfully talented Eva Coyle joining us Eva Coyle is a singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Athlone, Co. Westmeath. She has been acknowledged for her unique Folk sound, garnering praise from BBC Folk UK amongst others following the release of her debut album in May 2022. She has since headlined gigs at Kilkenny Trad Fest, Emo Forest Fest and performed at the Word Stage in Electric Picnic. She is now working on her second record and is performs gigs around Ireland and Sweden with fellow musicians Sean O’Dalaigh and John Shanagher.

Weekend Tickets now available www.clareislandfolkfestival.com

09/07/2024

Clare Island’s feature on Nationwide last night showcasing the benefits of the island’s Home Health Project.

Here, the HIVE lab team outline exactly what the initiative entails. Local residents feed back their experience with the project & everyday life on the island.

Take a look at what is possible when technology & healthcare come together.

Well done to all involved 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

This programme examines the provision of heath care needs for people in rural Ireland. Presented by Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh.

08/07/2024

Glowing reviews for Clare Island’s e-bike company Shoreline Pursuits
Well done Mike. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

We are so thankful for the wonderful people that we meet here day after day! We have received this lovely review from a great group of people we had here this week.
It is so great to see people arriving back after their day exploring the Island with smiles on their faces and being a part of that adventure.

06/07/2024

23/01/2024

Back to back storms force island communities to be more resilient than ever with no power, no running water & no access to their local mainland pier at Roonagh.
Clare Island Inishturk Island

07/12/2023

Let’s hope the “possible future project” actually gets delivered.
Thank you Alan Dillon TD for giving this fundemental issue the platform & support it deserves.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

A Mayo TD is deeply concerned about the dire situation currently faced by the people of Clare Island in regard to their water supply and has demanded immediate attention and action.

Address

Clare Island
Mayo
F28P293

Website

http://www.clareisland.ie/

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Videos

Take a trip to Clare Island #clareisland #discoverireland #thewildatlanticway #mayoislands

The island’s ruggedness in all its glory! Can anyone spot the #clareislandlighthouse on the horizon? #mayoislands #clareisland #ireland #thewildatlanticway #ireland

Clare Island Playground 🛝

Not just for the little ones! Grab a coffee, let the kids loose while you enjoy the outdoors in this idyllic setting. #clareisland #mayoislands #mayo #thewildatlanticway #ireland #irishislands

Clare Island Quay

Clare Island Quay had a make over this weekend with a lovely group of islanders coming together to freshen up a busy working pier, slip, exit / entry road & carpark areas. Didn’t they do a fantastic job? A little effort makes a huge impact. Well done to all involved 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 #community #clareisland #quay #waw #wildatlanticway #mayo #islands

✨ Dare to dream & magic happens ✨ Go on an adventure & explore some of Clare Island’s secluded beaches. They are magnificent. Take a look ⛱️☀️🐚

On route to this years Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann (Irish Islands Federation) AGM in Inishturk Island Come join us! Clare Island

Wonderful to see children learning and playing Irish traditional music at the annual Céili agus Ceol in #ClareIsland Community Centre.

More fun at the #ClareIsland Saint Patrick's Day parade! ☘️☘️☘️

Happy Saint Patrick's Day from #ClareIsland! ☘️☘️☘️

Congratulations to the lunatics who braved the annual #ClareIsland Christmas Day swim to fundraise for RNLI in the WORST POSSIBLE conditions! ❤️🎅🎄

The dream never dies. #Mayo4Sam #ClareIsland

Wonderful to see the #Corncrake in full calling mode on #ClareIsland. Best of luck finding a mate, Mr. C!

Great news! O'Malley's Harbour Shop is now open at #ClareIsland Harbour, 10:30-18:00 daily for the summer. Serving teas/coffees, food, sweets, ice-cream and drinks.

Big Atlantic swell at Roonagh Pier this evening.

And how is your daily commute today? #ClareIsland #wildatlanticway #StormEunice

Happy Christmas from #ClareIsland!

Our small island has kept the #GAA flame alive for decades. 🔥🏐 Now we are looking to the future: we want to keep the #ClareIsland GAA flame alive for the decades to come. 🙏 Here's how you can help! 👉 www.gofundme.com/cigaa 💚💛