Inishbofin Island

Seaguls in Inishbofin Bert K

Inishbofin (Inis Bó Finne in Irish, meaning Island of the White Cow) is an island lying about 8 kilometers (5 miles) off the coast of Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. It is about 5.5 km (3½ mi) long and 3 km (2 mi) wide, and has around 200 inhabitants.

Ruined house Bert K

Inishbofin is also home to Dún Gráinne, the remains of a fort used by the legendary Grace O'Malley, Ireland's pirate queen, as well as the ruins of a Celtic fort dating to 1000 B.C. Inishbofin is believed to have been continuously inhabited for up to 10,000 years. The current population of approximately 200 is down from a historical high of over 1000 in the 1840's.

Graveyard Bert K

An aspect of the island is that it has no trees or forests whatsoever. Any wood was cut down and used as heating fuel. Because of the salt-enriched air, trees were never able to re-establish themselves. Instead, a popular fuel on the island is peat turf. Cut from peat bogs, the turf is dried and makes a pleasant-smelling fire.

To get to Inishbofin, you must depart from the pier in Cleggan, located northwest of Clifden, Co. Galway. There is a daily ferry to Inishbofin all year round. There are three sailings per day to and from Inishbofin during the summer and two sailings daily during the winter.

Croagh Patrick

Croagh Patrick is a 772 metres mountain in the west of Ireland and an important site of pilgrimage. It is the third highest mountain in County Mayo after Mweelrea and Nephin. On "Reek Sunday", the last Sunday in July every year, over 15,000 pilgrims climb it.

The mountain is located 5 miles from the picturesque town of Westport and its conical shape soars majestically above the surrounding countryside. Magnificent views of Clew Bay and the surrounding south Mayo countryside are spectacular from all stages of the ascent of the mountain.


Currently it is estimated that nearly one million pilgrims climb to the summit each year, as many as forty thousand on the last Sunday in July. In the Irish Christian tradition the ascent is undertaken as an act of penance for wrongdoing, and many of the pilgrims climb barefooted or even on their knees!

A seam of gold was discovered in the mountain in the 1980s, which could produce 700,000 t (770,000 short tons) of ore. Mayo County Council elected not to allow mining, deciding that the gold was "fine where it was".

Evidence shows that Croagh Patrick was a place of tremendous importance in the pre-Christian era, as indicated by the discovery of a Celtic hill fort encircling the summit of the mountain. Neolithic foundations have been found on the summit and, on a natural rock outcrop (known as ‘St. Patrick’s Chair) along the pilgrimage route to the summit, Neolithic art has been discovered.


The walks are suitable for most people who are relatively fit and should be within the capabilities of most. The nearest town to Croagh Patrick is Westport in County Mayo, just five miles away.

Ben Bulben

Ben Bulben, Co. Sligo - Michael Clarke

Ben Bulben is a large rock formation in County Sligo, Ireland. It is part of the Dartry Mountains, an area sometimes called "Yeats Country".

Its name comes from the Irish: Binn Ghulbain. "Binn" is the word most often used for "peak" or "mountain", while "Ghulbain" means either "Gulban(’s)" or "jaw-shaped".

Ben Bulben from Duncliffe - Michael Clarke

Ben Bulben was formed during the ice age, when Ireland was under glaciers. Originally it was a large ridge. The moving glaciers shaped it into its present distinct formation.

The steeper sides of Ben Bulben are composed of large amounts of Dartry limestone on top of smaller amounts of Glencar limestone. The smoother sides are composed of Ben Bulben shale. These rocks formed in the area approximately 320 million years ago. Barytes was mined at Glencarbury near Ben Bulben in the Dartry range between 1894 and 1979.

Jordi Chueca

Ben Bulben hosts a unique variety of plants, possessing some organisms found nowhere else in Ireland. Many are arctic-alpine plants, due to the mountain's height, which allows for cooler temperatures than is normal. These plants were deposited when the glaciers that created Ben Bulben melted. Insects, wild hares, and foxes inhabit Ben Bulben.