The mountainous Clare Island guards the entrance to Clew Bay in County Mayo, it is the largest of the 365 islands in the bay. The island’s dramatic cliffs and wild landscapes provide natural habitats to a rich and varied flora and fauna. Its coastal areas are home to Peregrine Falcons, Puffins, Otters, Seals, Dolphins and more, you just never know what you might spot!
(Please hover over images and click to view gallery)
what's on?
(All events are free, places allocated on a 1st come-1st served basis!)
Wednesday 8th June
13:00hrs Natural History and Clare Island – Praeger, New Survyes & the Future
18:00hrs Poetry Reading with wine and cheese reception
Thursday 9th June
17:00hrs Agricultural Biology on Clare Islands and similar areas
23:00hrs Stargazing with campfire and marshmallows
Friday 10th June
11.30hrs Guided ramble through island flora – Donal Synnott
13:00hrs Tour of Macalla Farm: Retreat Centre and Organic Farm
19:00hrs Island BioBlitz registration at Base Camp – Go Explore Hostel
Saturday 11th June
10:00hrs Bogland Ecology: Carnivorous plants to alpine flowers – Dr. Heather Lally
11.30hrs Island BioBlitz launch at Base Camp: Ciara Cullen & Liam Lysaght
12:00hrs Island BioBlitz 2016 commences
12.00hrs Botanical walk: Beach to Bog – Donal Synnott
14.00hrs Introduction to seaweed identification – Robert Wilkes (EPA)
15:00hrs Archaeological Tour: 5,000 years of human habitation – Ciara Cullen
16:00hrs Insect identification walk
18:00hrs Wildlife walk – Colin Heaslip
20:00hrs New Clare Island Surveys: Past, present & future – Donal Synnott
22:00hrs Bat walk – Harm Deenan (Bat Conservation Ireland)
23.00hrs Stargazing: constellations, planets, campfires and marshmallows
Sunday 12th June
06:00hrs Early morning bird walk – Liam Lysaght
08.00hrs Opening of moth traps – Ken Bond
10.00hrs Kids beachcombing and Found Art workshop
12:00hrs Island BioBlitz - finishes
12:30hrs Island BioBlitz - winners announced
13:00hrs Farewell Soiree & Traditional Music Session
accommodation
- A list of B&Bs, guesthouses, self-catering and campsites can be found here: www.clareisland.info/accommodation
- One room available with Airbnb: www.airbnb.ie/s/Clare-Island--Ireland
getting there
- Clare Island Ferry runs 5 ferries each day to and from the island. The ferry departs from Roonagh Pier - a 5 minute taxi drive from Louisburgh Town (21km west of Westport). To view time tables and book your ticket visit: www.aranislandferries.com/times
location map
More about clare island
Clare Island is located 5km off the coast of County Mayo, today 160 people are living on the island. On your boat crossing from the main land, it’s very likely that you’ll be accompanied by a school of dolphins and or a herd of seals! The island is rich in history, geology and biodiversity and is famous as the ancestral home of the legendary Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley (Granuaile).
Clare Island’s silhouette is dominated by the giant hump of Knockmore Mountain at 461m on the island’s western edge. The cliffs along the north shore, at 100m high in places, are among the most dramatic in Europe and support one of the most important seabird colonies in Ireland - at least 13 species of seabird breed here - including over 4,000 Fulmar. The island is also home to the beautiful Puffin, Gannet, Chough and the stunning Peregrine Falcon.
The island also has a rich history which can be explored at Granuaile’s Castle, the C12th Cistercian Abbey, the Lighthouse, the Napoleonic Tower or some of the fascinating Bronze-Age sites dotted around the island.
want more info?!
“Adopt the pace of Nature, her secret is patience.”