Rich in archaeological sites, Inishturk, which translates as ‘Island of the Wild Boar’, is a beautiful island located off the west coast of Mayo, lying between the islands of Inishbofin and Clare Island.
Rising boldly from the wild North Atlantic, the island has wall-like cliffs to the northwest and steep hills to the north. The island is 5km (3.1 miles) long, by 2.5km (1.5 miles) wide.
Inhabited on and off since 4000BC and continuously since at least 1700, the island is rich in archaeological sites, and its rugged pathways and lesser-known trails offer visitors plenty of opportunities to explore. There are two marked walks on the island, which take about 1.5 (moderate terrain) and 2.5 hours (more challenging).
Activities on the island include hillwalking, fishing, walking, swimming, and scuba diving.
Historical places of interest include Port an Dún, the Present Graveyard, and the ruins of the old Napoleonic Signal Tower which stand 209m above sea level.
The Inishturk traditional music festival and the Inishturk Regatta take place in July every year.
Ferries to Inishturk leave from Roonagh Pier, 28km (17.5 miles) west of Westport.
Walking
The rugged island landscape will delight the walker. You can ramble around the island loop walks at your leisure and explore the many small country lanes that span the Island.
There are two recognised walks on the Island. The shorter one, the inner walk is a nice easy saunter, and a longer cliff walk through the commonage is more challenging.
Beaches
Young and old alike will relish the blue waters and fine sand of Tranaun and Curraun.
These unspoiled beaches, protected by coves on Inishturk’s southeast coast, offer stunning views across to Mayo and the mountains of Connemara. Tránaun is a beautiful sandy beach with crystal clear waters. Awarded the green coast flag in 2018 for its bathing water quality and purity it is definitely worth a visit during your time on the island.
Community Club
When visiting Inishturk a trip to the Community Centre is a must. The setting has been described as “The pub with the best view in Europe”.
You will enjoy the full island experience if you round your trip to Inishturk off with a pint of Guinness and an hour or two of ceoil agus craic in the community club.
Caher View Restaurant
Caher View Restaurant offers the most spectacular scenery in Ireland, with stunning views of Croagh Patrick and Mweelrea as you sample our menu. Specialising in fresh local catch and veg from our organic garden.
For further information on visiting Inishturk please visit our website https://www.inishturkisland.com or call 0872102785.