Inishtrahull Island
Encyclopedia
Inishtrahull is located approx 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north-east of Malin Head
, Inishowen
, County Donegal
. It is the most northerly island
of Ireland
. The most northerly landfall of Ireland, the Tor Beg rock is located another one kilometer to the North West of Inishtrahull. Inishtrahull has an area of 0.34 square kilometre (0.131274733921462 sq mi).
metamorphic rock
known as Inishtrahull Gneiss, dated at 1.7 billion years old. The gneiss is the oldest known rock on the Irish Islands, however studies have shown that the island was originally part of southern Greenland
. Roddy Muir, a Scottish Geologist
, in the McCallion report, argued for geological links between Greenland, Colonsay
, Islay
and Inishtrahull. Muir visited this area and used Plate tectonics
to conclude that Inishtrahull was part of the Southern tip of Greenland c.1800 million years ago. He believes that Inishtrahull, Islay
and Colonsay broke off the southern tip of Greenland, Islay and Colonsay moving to the western area of Scotland and Inishtrahull moving 1300 km (807.8 mi) to the south east of Greenland off the Donegal Coast.
The evacuation of the community from Inistrahull took place en-bloc in 1929. The matter was raised in a Dáil debate on illegal fishing in November, 1929 by the TD
for the area, Deputy Carney
. The Deputy stated that Inishtrahull was one of the few places in the country where the population had actually increased by almost 100% from 1881 to 1901. He said that the people on the island had a school and a graveyard and earned their livelihood from the fishing industry with very small boats for inshore fishing and that they could line fish and fish with nets during the herring season. Deputy Carney said that ordinarily they were able to make a reasonable living. However, he said that because of illegal fishing by “Scotch and English trawlers and French fishing smacks” the islanders had been compelled some weeks earlier to evacuate the island, desert their homes and leave only a lighthousekeeper behind.
Responding the Minister for Fisheries, Fionán Lynch TD said that he did not agree that the people had left the island because of illegal fishing and was making enquiries as to their current circumstances. The Minister said that he “would like to feel that everything was being done to keep them from being a permanent charge on home assistance”. The Minister later sent a Principal Officer from his Department to report on their circumstances. The Minister then reported in the Dáil that “four of the [six Inistrahull] families derived their livelihood from the Irish Lights boat service to the island, in which they are still able to engage” and that there was no case state intervention. He also said that his Officer’s report indicated that the resettled Islanders were not in “poor circumstances”.
. Today its light flashes every 30 seconds. The ruins of the old lighthouse as well as a new (1956) lighthouse
can be found on the island. Automation of the lighthouse was completed in March 1987 and the last three Lighthousekeepers left the station on 30 April 1987.
Over the centuries, Ireland has been the source of millions of emigrants bound for the “New World” across the Atlantic. For many of those emigrants, especially those who departed from Derry
, Inistrahull and its lighthouse had a special significance. As one emigrant recalled:
by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The islands geographical location and lighthouse attract many unusual birds, as well as a population of Grey Seal
s. The island and its adjacent 90 metre depth tidal sound attract basking sharks and cetaceans in large numbers during the summer months. Many scuba-divers use the Islands Port Mór as a lunch spot while out surveying the hundreds of wrecks off its shores. Access to the island is limited by the dangerous tides and currents around Malin Head
and the island itself. There are landing restrictions enforced by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Commissioners of Irish Lights
(present owners of the Island). Particular care is requested by visitors during the breeding bird period of May - July.
Malin Head
Malin Head , on the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal, is usually given as the most northerly headland of the mainland of Ireland . In fact, the most northerly point is actually a headland named Banba's Crown on the Inishowen Peninsula about 2 km to the northeast...
, Inishowen
Inishowen
Inishowen is a peninsula in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. It is also the largest peninsula in all of Ireland. Inishowen is a picturesque location with a rich history...
, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. It is the most northerly island
Extreme points of Ireland
This is a list of the extreme points of Ireland – the points that are farthest north, south, east or west. It includes the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.Often the term "Malin to Mizen" is used when encompassing the entire island from north to south...
of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The most northerly landfall of Ireland, the Tor Beg rock is located another one kilometer to the North West of Inishtrahull. Inishtrahull has an area of 0.34 square kilometre (0.131274733921462 sq mi).
Geology
The island is formed from a type of the GneissGneiss
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks.-Etymology:...
metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock is the transformation of an existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form". The protolith is subjected to heat and pressure causing profound physical and/or chemical change...
known as Inishtrahull Gneiss, dated at 1.7 billion years old. The gneiss is the oldest known rock on the Irish Islands, however studies have shown that the island was originally part of southern Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. Roddy Muir, a Scottish Geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
, in the McCallion report, argued for geological links between Greenland, Colonsay
Colonsay
Colonsay is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, located north of Islay and south of Mull and has an area of . It is the ancestral home of Clan Macfie and the Colonsay branch of Clan MacNeill. Aligned on a south-west to north-east axis, it measures in length and reaches at its widest...
, Islay
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
and Inishtrahull. Muir visited this area and used Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
to conclude that Inishtrahull was part of the Southern tip of Greenland c.1800 million years ago. He believes that Inishtrahull, Islay
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
and Colonsay broke off the southern tip of Greenland, Islay and Colonsay moving to the western area of Scotland and Inishtrahull moving 1300 km (807.8 mi) to the south east of Greenland off the Donegal Coast.
The islanders
The island is now uninhabited but had a resident community until 1929 and lighthousekeepers until 1987.The evacuation of the community from Inistrahull took place en-bloc in 1929. The matter was raised in a Dáil debate on illegal fishing in November, 1929 by the TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
for the area, Deputy Carney
Frank Carney (politician)
Frank Carney was an Irishman who fought in the British Army in the World War I before joining the Irish Republican Army...
. The Deputy stated that Inishtrahull was one of the few places in the country where the population had actually increased by almost 100% from 1881 to 1901. He said that the people on the island had a school and a graveyard and earned their livelihood from the fishing industry with very small boats for inshore fishing and that they could line fish and fish with nets during the herring season. Deputy Carney said that ordinarily they were able to make a reasonable living. However, he said that because of illegal fishing by “Scotch and English trawlers and French fishing smacks” the islanders had been compelled some weeks earlier to evacuate the island, desert their homes and leave only a lighthousekeeper behind.
Responding the Minister for Fisheries, Fionán Lynch TD said that he did not agree that the people had left the island because of illegal fishing and was making enquiries as to their current circumstances. The Minister said that he “would like to feel that everything was being done to keep them from being a permanent charge on home assistance”. The Minister later sent a Principal Officer from his Department to report on their circumstances. The Minister then reported in the Dáil that “four of the [six Inistrahull] families derived their livelihood from the Irish Lights boat service to the island, in which they are still able to engage” and that there was no case state intervention. He also said that his Officer’s report indicated that the resettled Islanders were not in “poor circumstances”.
Last sight of Ireland
Inishtrahull is home to the most northern Irish lighthouse. The lighthouse was first put into operation in 1813 largely because ships of the British Navy had begun to use Lough FoyleLough Foyle
Lough Foyle, sometimes Loch Foyle , is the estuary of the River Foyle in Ulster. It starts where the Foyle leaves Derry. It separates the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland from County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.-Transport:...
. Today its light flashes every 30 seconds. The ruins of the old lighthouse as well as a new (1956) lighthouse
Inishtrahull lighthouse
Inishtrahull Lighthouse is the northerly most lighthouse in Ireland located on the Inishtrahull Island off the coast of County Donegal. Coupled with the lighthouse on Tory Island they form the two main landfall lights for shipping from the Atlantic rounding the north coast of Ireland, and...
can be found on the island. Automation of the lighthouse was completed in March 1987 and the last three Lighthousekeepers left the station on 30 April 1987.
Over the centuries, Ireland has been the source of millions of emigrants bound for the “New World” across the Atlantic. For many of those emigrants, especially those who departed from Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Inistrahull and its lighthouse had a special significance. As one emigrant recalled:
Attractions
Inishtrahull is well known for its wildlife and is designated a Nature reserveNature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The islands geographical location and lighthouse attract many unusual birds, as well as a population of Grey Seal
Grey Seal
The grey seal is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a large seal of the family Phocidae or "true seals". It is the only species classified in the genus Halichoerus...
s. The island and its adjacent 90 metre depth tidal sound attract basking sharks and cetaceans in large numbers during the summer months. Many scuba-divers use the Islands Port Mór as a lunch spot while out surveying the hundreds of wrecks off its shores. Access to the island is limited by the dangerous tides and currents around Malin Head
Malin Head
Malin Head , on the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal, is usually given as the most northerly headland of the mainland of Ireland . In fact, the most northerly point is actually a headland named Banba's Crown on the Inishowen Peninsula about 2 km to the northeast...
and the island itself. There are landing restrictions enforced by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Commissioners of Irish Lights
Commissioners of Irish Lights
The Commissioners of Irish Lights is the body that serves as the lighthouse authority for Ireland plus its adjacent seas and islands...
(present owners of the Island). Particular care is requested by visitors during the breeding bird period of May - July.