Overview
Inishturk (Inis Toirc, ‘Island of the Wild Boar’) sits about nine miles (14.5 km) off the Mayo coast, between Clare Island and Inishbofin, and its permanent population is 56 – the 2022 census figure. The island is roughly 5 km by 2.5 km, rising in wall-like cliffs to the north-west and steep hills to the north, on which the ruined Napoleonic signal tower stands around 722 ft (220 m) above the sea. Life centres on a community hub that doubles as shop, library and pub. There are very few cars, which is the quiet you come for: this is a place for walking, watching seabirds and doing not much at all.
If you only have a day and can manage the hills, walk the Mountain Common Loop for the cliff views. If you have longer, it’s the kind of island best measured in nights, not hours.
History and heritage
People have used Inishturk on and off for around 6,000 years, and the archaeology is unusually rich for its size: a ninth-century fort at Portdoon (Port an Dún) above the island’s sea lagoon, a 16th-century Old Church, Bronze Age beehive huts, and the Napoleonic signal tower of about 1805. The tower was one of a chain built around the Irish coast during the Napoleonic Wars to watch for a French fleet, and it now stands as a weathered ruin on the high ground, worth the climb for the view alone.
The island’s modern life turns on the community centre, opened in 1993 and still the social heart of the place. The biennial Turkfest arts festival, over the second weekend in June, brings music, food and crafts, and the 2013 ‘Tale of the Tongs’ sculpture marks generations of island families. In May 2026 the island took on something new: Ireland’s first dedicated native honey bee sanctuary, and a mead, Wild Atlantic Mead, which debuted at the Taste of Inishturk festival. The national school, which at one point had just three pupils and was reckoned the smallest in the country, tells you everything about the scale of the place.
Walking & Sightseeing
Inishturk is best explored on foot. The island’s trail network is straightforward and well-suited to all fitness levels, with routes clearly marked from the pier:
- Lough Coolaknick Loop: a 5 km circular walk of roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, passing a freshwater lake, heathland and coastal viewpoints. The easier of the two.
- Mountain Common Loop: an 8 km route of about 2 hours with 170 m of ascent, the one to do for the broad Atlantic views off the high ground.
- Dromore Head: the northern point, with sea stacks – Buachaill Mór and Buachaill Beag – and a vantage across to Achill Island and the Connemara hills. Good for seabirds.
- Portdoon (Port an Dún): a rare sea lagoon, said to be Ireland’s only offshore one, reached through a narrow sea-gate that currachs traditionally slipped through. The sheltered water makes an unusual, calm swimming spot, and a ninth-century fort sits above it.
- Beaches: Tranaun and Curraun are sheltered coves with clear water, good for a quiet picnic or a summer swim.
- The GAA pitch: a full football pitch levelled into a rocky valley, and one of the island’s oddest sights. Glamping yurts now stand on it, which turns a game of football into somewhere to sleep under a properly dark sky.
Wildlife & Nature
The island’s limestone outcrops and heathland support a diverse range of flora, including the rare Spotted Rock-Rose (Tuberaria guttata). The sheer cliffs are a breeding ground for seabirds. Between April and August, visitors can observe colonies of puffins, razorbills, and guillemots nesting along the ledges. Grey seals frequently haul out on the western rocks, and dolphin pods have been spotted in the deeper waters off the coast. The absence of motor vehicles means the island remains quiet, making it ideal for birdwatching and nature photography.
Getting There & Ferry Details
Inishturk is served year-round by O’Malley Ferries from Roonagh Pier, about 6 km north of Louisburgh. The crossing runs roughly 50 minutes to an hour. Ferries sail daily in summer and to a lighter off-peak schedule the rest of the year, and a mail boat also runs twice weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays) from Cleggan Pier in County Galway, weather permitting. Always confirm the timetable with the operator before travelling, as sea conditions can cancel a sailing at short notice.
Parking at Roonagh Pier is free but limited, and it fills up on summer days when the Clare Island boats are running too – arrive early to be sure of a space rather than circling for one as the ferry loads.
Standard ferry fares (subject to seasonal adjustment) are:
- Adults: €11 single / €22 return
- Students (with valid card): €8 single / €16 return
- Children (5–18 years): €5.50 single / €11 return
- Under 5s and pensioners with travel cards: Free
Accommodation & Dining
Visitors can stay in self-catering cottages, guesthouses, or the glamping yurts pitched on the GAA field, which come with airbeds and shower facilities and an unobstructed night sky above. Dining is limited but good: the Community Centre pub does traditional meals and the odd session of live music, and the Caher View Restaurant works with locally landed seafood – lobster, pollock, mackerel – and homemade desserts. Basic groceries and fishing supplies come from the shop inside the community centre.
Visiting Tips
Book accommodation well in advance if you plan to visit during Turkfest in June, as the island fills quickly. The loop walks are best tackled in the morning when light conditions are ideal for photography. Bring sturdy footwear for the cliff paths, and pack layers – Atlantic weather can shift rapidly. For those interested in marine exploration, local boatmen organise scuba diving trips to nearby wrecks and excursions to neighbouring islands like Clare Island. Check ferry schedules with O’Malley Ferries at least 48 hours before your trip, and allow extra time for luggage transfers at the pier.