Sights in Aran Islands
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A
Synge's Chair
At the desolate western edge of the island, Synge's Chair is a lookout at the edge of a sheer limestone cliff with the surf from Gregory's Sound booming below. The cliff ledge is often sheltered from the wind, so do as Synge did and find a comfortable stone seat to take it all in. The formation is two minutes' walk from the parking area; you can leg it around the bleak west side of the island from here in an hour.
On the walk out to Synge's Chair, a sign points the way to a clochán, hidden behind a house and shed.
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Tobar Éinne
Locals still carry out a pilgrimage known as the Turas to the Well of Enda, an ever- burbling spring in a remote rocky expanse in the southwest. The ceremony involves, over the course of three consecutive Sundays, picking up seven stones from the ground nearby and walking around the small well seven times, putting one stone down each time, while saying the rosary until an elusive eel appears from the well's watery depths. If, during this ritual, you're lucky enough to see the eel, it's said your tongue will be bestowed with healing powers, enabling you to literally lick wounds.
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Dún Aengus
Three spectacular forts stand guard over Inishmór, each believed to be around 2000 years old. Chief among them is Dún Aengus, which has three nonconcentric walls that run right up to sheer drops to the ocean below. It is protected by remarkable chevaux de frise, fearsome and densely packed defensive stone spikes that surely helped deter ancient armies from invading the site.
Powerful swells pound the 60m-high cliff face. A complete lack of rails or other modern additions that would spoil this amazing ancient site means that you can not only go right up to the cliff's edge but also potentially fall to your doom below quite easily. When it's uncrowded, you can't help but f…
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O'Brien's Castle
A 100m climb to the island's highest point yields dramatic views over clover-covered fields to the beach and harbour. This 15th-century church (Caisleán Uí Bhriain) was built within the remains of a ring fort called Dún Formna, dating from as early as the 1st century AD. You can freely explore the ruins inside and out. Nearby is an 18th-century signal tower.
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Na Seacht dTeampaill
Past Kilmurvey is the perfect Clochán na Carraige, an early-Christian stone hut that stands 2.5m tall, and various small early-Christian ruins known rather inaccurately as the Na Seacht dTeampaill, comprising a couple of ruined churches, monastic houses and some fragments of a high cross from the 8th or 9th century.
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Aran Heritage Centre
For an informed appreciation of all three islands' history, geology and wildlife, stop in at the Aran Heritage Centre, just off the main road leading out of Kilronan. The admission fee covers regular screenings of Robert Flaherty's 1934 film Man of Aran. The centre also has a coffee shop.
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Teampall Chaoimháin
Named for Inisheer's patron saint, who is buried close by, the roofless 10th-century Church of St Kevin and small cemetery perch on a tiny bluff near the Strand. On the eve of St Kevin's 14 June feast day, a mass is held here in the open air at 9pm. Those with ailments sleep here for the night to be healed.
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Áras Éanna
Inisheer's large community arts centre sits out on an exposed stretch of the northern side of the island, a 15-minute walk from the village. It has visiting artists programs through the summer and various cultural programs and performances.
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Inisheer Heritage House
West of the small, sandy beach next to the pier, Inisheer Heritage House is a traditional stone-built thatched cottage with some interesting old photographs. It also has a craft shop and café.
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Cill Ghobnait
The tiny 8th- or 9th-century Church of St Gobnait is named after Gobnait, who fled here from Clare while trying to escape an enemy who was pursuing her.
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Teampall Bheanáin
The ruins of numerous stone churches trace the island's monastic history. To the southeast, near Cill Éinne Bay, is the early-Christian Teampall Bheanáin.
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Teampall Chiaráin
The ruins of numerous stone churches trace the island's monastic history. The small Teampall Chiaráin, with a high cross in the churchyard, is near Kilronan.
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Teach Synge
This thatched cottage, on the road just before you head up to the fort Dún Chonchúir, is where the writer JM Synge spent his summers between 1898 and 1902.
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St Enda's Monastery
Near the airstrip are the sunken remains of a church; the spot where it's located is said to have been the site of St Enda's Monastery in the 5th century.
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Kilmurvey
There's a Blue Flag beach (a clean, safe beach given the EU Blue Flag award) at Kilmurvey, peacefully situated west of bustling Kilronan.
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Dún Fearbhaigh
A well-preserved stone fort Dún Fearbhaigh, a short distance west of Cill Cheannannach, dates from the 8th- or 9th-century.
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Port Chorrúch
In the sheltered little bay of Port Chorrúch, up to 50 grey seals sun themselves and feed in the shallows.
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Dún Eochla
Along the road between Kilronan and Dún Aengus is the smaller, perfectly circular fort, Dún Eochla.
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Dún Dúchathair
Dramatically perched on a clifftop promontory directly south of Kilronan is Dún Dúchathair .
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Dún Eoghanachta
To the south of the Na Seacht dTeampaill ruins is Dún Eoghanachta, another circular fort.
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Cill Cheannannach
Cill Cheannannach is a rough 8th- or 9th-century church, south of the pier.
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Plassy
Dating from 1960, this iconic island sight was a freighter that was thrown up on the rocks in bad weather. Miraculously, all on board were saved; Tigh Ned's pub has a collection of photographs and documents detailing the rescue. An aerial shot of the wreck was used in the opening sequence of the iconic TV series Father Ted.
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