Inis Oírr: The Forgotten Island
Galway, Ireland
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Inis Oírr Islander
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250
XP
2 days
Inis Oírr: The Forgotten Island
250 XP
Inis Oírr is the smallest of the three Aran Islands and the one most people skip. The Plassy was wrecked on the shore here on 8 March 1960, every one of her crew taken off alive by breeches buoy, and Atlantic storms have since thrown the hull up above the high tide mark, which is why she sits on bare rock. O'Brien's Castle is a 14th-century tower house built inside a prehistoric stone fort, using the older wall as its outer defence. A single road runs south to the lighthouse and stops at the Atlantic. The whole island loop takes under an hour on a bike, and Irish is still the working language on it.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Photograph the Plassy on the north shore — wrecked in 1960 and thrown up onto bare rock by later storms
2
of 4
Climb to O'Brien's Castle, a 14th-century tower house built inside a prehistoric stone fort
3
of 4
Walk the single road to the lighthouse at the south point and watch the Atlantic from the end of the road
4
of 4
Cycle the full island loop — it takes less than an hour and feels like cycling through another century
Photograph the Plassy on the north shore — wrecked in 1960 and thrown up onto bare rock by later storms
Climb to O'Brien's Castle, a 14th-century tower house built inside a prehistoric stone fort
Walk the single road to the lighthouse at the south point and watch the Atlantic from the end of the road
Cycle the full island loop — it takes less than an hour and feels like cycling through another century
Before you go
Inis Oírr is reached by ferry from Doolin or Rossaveal, and sailings are cancelled in rough weather; check before you travel and leave time to get back.
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XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
250 XP
Potential total
250 XP
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