Clare Island

Home
Ireland
Mayo
Clare Island

Directions Website

Clare Island is a great place if you are looking for a holiday, weekend away, a night out or just a day trip – so go on take the ferry out from Roonagh!
(2)

Use to share your experiences and pics from the island! Encapsulated in the Saw Doctors' song ‘Will you meet me on Clare Island?'’, Clare Island is located 3.5 miles off the west coast of County Mayo, Ireland. The ferry crossing from Roonagh Pier takes 20 minutes and there is every chance that you will be accompanied on your journey by a school of dolphins. Clare Island is the largest (8km long and 5km wide) of the 365 islands in Clew Bay. Famous as the ancestral home of the legendary Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley (Granuaile), she has a population of about 160 people; economic activities include farming, fishing and tourism with numerous other small businesses also supporting a vibrant community. Clare Island’s silhouette is dominated by the giant hump of Knockmore at 461 metres on her western edge and the more gently sloping Knocknaveen to her centre. Her western cliffs are among the most dramatic in Europe and are home to large numbers of nesting sea birds. Once on Clare Island, there is so much to see and do – the island’s rich history, geological and biological landscape (studied in depth in the Clare Island Survey) can be explored on foot, bike or by mini bus. Be sure to take time out to view the Blue Flag Beach, Granuaile’s Castle, the 12th century Cistercian Abbey, the Lighthouse, the Napoleonic Tower and the various Bronze-Age sites. Why not call in and see the Heritage Centre or Ballytoughey Loom? There are also plenty of activities to suit everyone including hiking, cycling, fishing, swimming, boat trips, yoga retreats, weaving courses and a variety of adventure activities. Clare Island plays host to a number of annual festivals and events including the: 10k road race, local theatre group production, Yacht Race, Junior Céilí, Annual Bonfire Beach Party, Annual Football tournament, Snas ar do Bhlas - Irish weekend, Bard Summer School, Regatta, Tall Ship Celebrations, Comhaltas seisiúns, Open Mic Nights, Féile Cheoil, Adventure Race, Film Festival, and Christmas Concert & Market. Clare Island also boasts a rich cultural heritage witnessed through its many craftspeople, artists, musicians and dancers. There are two pubs on the island offering plenty of local craic agus ceol. Accommodation on the island is of a high standard and includes camping, a hostel, the lighthouse, B&B’s and self-catering. Delicious island fare is available from 11 am daily. In the off-season you are advised to check our website for restaurant opening hours. A great place to go if you are looking for a holiday, weekend away, a night out or just a day trip – so go on, take yourself to ! www.clareisland.ie

29/10/2026

Always finding the beauty in the storm on Clare Island 🌈🧡

Happy Spooky Season!

28/10/2026

26/10/2026

Moo-dy bank holiday Monday🐄🍂

Patiently waiting for this storm to pass over!

23/10/2026

Picnic time on Clare Island🧺🥪

With our food offerings finished for the season, it’s the perfect excuse to pack a picnic, get outdoors and make an adventure of it!

Bring along your favourite treats, find a spot on one of our beautiful benches and enjoy lunch with a view🌸

Sometimes the simplest plans make the best days!

21/10/2026

Blue skies on top of Knockmore ⛰️

We are making the most of these lovely days on Clare Island before the winter storms set in!

Who’s taken on ‘the big hill’ before?🥾

📸 Rosa

19/10/2026

A lovely day of connection and shared experiences on Clare Island🏝️✨

Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of welcoming Eviton Heyliger, Commissioner for Culture and Global Affairs of Saba, and his colleagues to Clare Island.

It was a wonderful opportunity to share experiences and recognise how, despite being on opposite sides of the Atlantic, our island communities face many of the same challenges.

A huge thank you to Adam and his team at Oileán for helping to facilitate the visit and bring our island communities together👏🏻

A special thank you to our local musicians for the lovely tunes, Humphrey for the Island tour, and Beth for gifting our visitors a beautiful piece of her handwoven work.

Thanks also to Maureen and the team at the Community Centre for the refreshments, and to everyone who came along and helped give our visitors such a warm Clare Island welcome🫶🏻

We look forward to seeing these connections grow and to continuing the conversation between our island communities🤝💙

17/10/2026

Night time sparkle at The Quay ✨🌙⚓️

A little island magic after dark💙

15/10/2026

👻🎃 CLARE ISLAND HALLOWEEN KIDS CAMP 🎃👻

Get ready for a fun-filled day at Clare Island Community Centre this Halloween midterm!

📅 Monday, 26th October
⏰ 10am – 3:30pm
📍 Clare Island Community Centre
👧 Ages 4–12 years

📝 Registration is essential! Please complete the form by Wednesday, 21st October (one form per child) - 🔗 in bio

This camp is made possible thanks to Local Creative Youth Partnership funding and the support of Cliara Development Company.

Donations to Barretstown are greatly appreciated in lieu of a fee. Every little bit helps! 🙏 (Link in bio)

For any questions, contact Lorraine & Tom on 087 233 0474.

Spread the word and let the Halloween fun begin👻🕷️

12/10/2026

Moody skies over Granuaile Castle🌥️🏰

We love these evening views from the sea!

Who’s making a Clare Island trip this October?🍁👻

09/10/2026

Friday morning sheep talk 🐑✋

Absolutely no baaa-d vibes going into the weekend here!

Address

Clare Island
Mayo
F28P293

Website

http://www.clareisland.ie/, https://forms.office.com/e/kvNgEGtwxY

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Clare Island posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.