Inisheer

Introducing Inisheer

Although Inisheer (Inis Oírr) is only 8km off the coast from Doolin in County Clare, the absence of tourist amenities nevertheless keeps visitor numbers down. The smallest of the Aran Islands has a palpable sense of enchantment, enhanced by the island’s deep-rooted mythology and ethereal landscapes.

The wheels of change turn very slowly here. Electricity didn’t come to the island until the 1970s and even then only by generator. It was connected to the mainland’s electricity via an underwater cable in 1997.

Inisheer boasts a surprisingly large state-of-the-art community arts centre, which sits out on an exposed stretch of the northern side of the island as a beacon of the island’s artistic traditions.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009