Inch Island

Inch Island (Irish: An Inse, meaning "The Island";[2] Also spelled in Irish as An Inis.[3]) is an island in Lough Swilly, County Donegal, Ireland.

Inch Island
Native name:
An Inse / Inis na nOsirí[1]
Inch Island from Grianan of Aileach
Inch Island
Geography
LocationLough Swilly
Coordinates55.065°N 7.495°W / 55.065; -7.495
Area13 km2 (5.0 sq mi)
Highest elevation222 m (728 ft)
Administration
ProvinceUlster
CountyDonegal
Demographics
Population448 (2011)

Geography and History

The island is around 5 square miles (13 square kilometres) in area.[4] It lies in Lough Swilly, just off the south-western coast of Inishowen, near the village of Burt. Inch Island is connected to the mainland by a causeway road, known as the Inch Banks. The island's highest hill is at 222 m.[5] Another Irish language name for Inch Island is Inis na nOsirí, meaning 'Island of the Oysters'.[6][7]

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1841 978—    
1851 769−21.4%
1901 462−39.9%
1951 414−10.4%
YearPop.±%
1996 397−4.1%
2002 438+10.3%
2006 438+0.0%
2011448+2.3%
Source: John Chambers. "Islands - Change in Population 1841 - 2011". irishislands.info. Retrieved February 19, 2015.

The table reports data taken from Discover the Islands of Ireland (Alex Ritsema, Collins Press, 1999) and the Census of Ireland.

Relevant buildings
Presbyterian kirk (church), located at Carnaghan.
The beach looking ENE

The remains of a portal tomb with a nearby burial chamber, probably constructed using parts of the original tomb, is located near Carnaghan (Irish: Baile Mhic Cearnachain) on the south-western part of the island.[8] A 15th century castle, known as Inch Castle, stands on a cliff overlooking Lough Swilly. The island's Presbyterian kirk (church) is one of the smallest of the surrounding area (just some 14 families are members of it); the island's Catholic church, usually known simply as 'the Chapel', is dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes and was built in 1932.[4]

Nature

Inch island is a well known birdwatching site with a relevant population of migratory and wintering birds. Bird species on the island include Greenland white fronted goose, whooper swan and greylag goose.[9]

Tourism

Inch Wildfowl Reserve features an 8km looped walk, catering for outdoor recreational activity including walking, running and cycling. The site includes two car parks, seating, viewpoints and a number of bird hides open to the public. This scenic pathway follows around the lake edge and offers panoramic views of the surrounding agricultural landscape and wetlands.[10]

See also

References
  1. https://www.derryjournal.com/news/people/new-website-offers-virtual-museum-exhibition-inch-island-heritage-2841997
  2. "An Inse". Placenames Database of Ireland. Dublin City University. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  3. Patrick McKay, A Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names, p. 82. The Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, 1999.
  4. "Donegal Islands - INCH ISLAND - Population". www.welovedonegal.com. WeLoveDonegal. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  5. "Inishowen Area /Inch Top". MountainViews. Ordnance Survey Ireland. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  6. https://www.derryjournal.com/news/people/new-website-offers-virtual-museum-exhibition-inch-island-heritage-2841997
  7. https://www.inchheritage.org
  8. "'Inch Island' : Portal Tomb". www.megalithomania.com. Failte Ireland. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  9. "Inch Island -Donegal". www.discoverireland.ie. Failte Ireland. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  10. "Inch Wildfowl Reserve Looped Walk". www.inchwildfowlreserve.ie. Retrieved 2019-01-28.

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