Owey Island

Owey Island (Irish: Uaigh, meaning "Cave" [1][2]) is an island off the coast of west County Donegal, Ireland.

Owey Island
Native name:
Uaigh
Owey Island
Geography
LocationAtlantic Ocean
Coordinates55.0547°N 8.4508°W / 55.0547; -8.4508
Area1.214 km2 (0.469 sq mi)
Highest elevation102 m (335 ft)
Highest pointMoylemore
Administration
Ireland
ProvinceUlster
CountyDonegal
Demographics
Population0 (2011)

Geography

The island is around 300 acres[3] (1.2 square kilometres) in area. It lies off the Donegal coast near Kincasslagh.[2] The island's highest hill, Moylemore, is at 102 m.[4] The buildings of the island are located on its southern part, being the northern one rocky and exposed to winds. On Owey there is no mains electricity or public water supply.

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±%
184194—    
1851118+25.5%
1861127+7.6%
1871130+2.4%
1881141+8.5%
1891139−1.4%
1901137−1.4%
1911152+10.9%
YearPop.±%
1926143−5.9%
1936125−12.6%
1946105−16.0%
1951106+1.0%
195699−6.6%
196195−4.0%
196676−20.0%
197151−32.9%
YearPop.±%
19790−100.0%
198100.00%
198600.00%
199100.00%
199600.00%
200200.00%
200627—    
2011 0−100.0%
Source: Central Statistics Office. "CNA17: Population by Off Shore Island, Sex and Year". CSO.ie. Retrieved 12 October 2016.

The table reports data taken from Discover the Islands of Ireland (Alex Ritsema, Collins Press, 1999) and the Census of Ireland. Owey Island was full-time inhabited up to the mid 1970s. Later on it only had part-time residents, mainly at summer. Most of them own old cottages inherited by ancestors who used to permanently live in the island.

History
Abandoned schoolhouse; the new house at the right appears to be in use seasonally
Overall view from the neighbouring Cruit Island

Plenty of fish in the waters surrounding the island and the land that, fertilized with seaweed, was suitable for growing vegetables, allowed a simple lifestyle to more than 100 people. Turf was used to heat the homes; some of the islanders used it also to heat the equipment to produce single malt and liquors.[2]

In the olden days Owey had a post office and a school, which closed in 1971; its remains are still there. It had just one teacher in charge of the primary education of all ages, while for their secondary education children had to be sent to the mainland.

See also

References
  1. "Uaigh". Placenames Database of Ireland. Dublin City University. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  2. "Donegal Islands – OWEY". www.welovedonegal.com. WeLoveDonegal. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  3. "Owey Island, County Donegal, Ireland". www.inyourfootsteps.com. Inyourfootsteps.com UK Ltd. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  4. "Donegal NW Area – Moylemore (Owey Island) Hill". MountainViews. Ordnance Survey Ireland. Retrieved 27 April 2015.

Media related to Owey Island at Wikimedia Commons

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