Arcadia Ireland

This past weekend, students in NUI Galway embarked on a day trip to Inishmore (Inis Mór) in the Aran Islands. Inishmore, which draws its name from the Irish for “Great Island”, is the largest of the three Aran Islands and a true bastion of Irish culture. In fact, the three islands together collectively comprise a Gaeltacht (i.e. predominantly Irish-speaking region), and Irish is still the daily language of Inishmore’s roughly 1,000 inhabitants.

Inishmore is home to one of the finest prehistoric forts in Europe: Dun Aengus (the view from which is pictured above). A relic from the pre-Christian era, Dun Aengus is as mysterious as it is ancient, and  neither its age nor its builder can be unequivocally confirmed.

The island’s landscape bears a rugged beauty similar to that of the Burren in Co. Clare, with limestone pavement spread out across much of its face. And indeed, like the Burren, Inishmore’s unique environment allows it to support a remarkable assemblage of flora and fauna.

Ferries run year round from Rossaveal, Co. Galway and seasonally from Doolin, Co. Clare into Kilronan harbour.  And while visitors to Inishmore will undoubtedly feel the effect that geographic isolation has had on the island, they needn’t look far for some modern Galwayesque conveniences!