Overview
The Keeragh Islands (Irish: Oileáin na gCaorach, “Sheep Islands”) lie about 1.5 km (≈1 mile) off the south‑eastern coast of County Wexford, opposite Blackhall Strand and a short walk from Cullenstown Beach. The pair – a larger two‑acre island and a smaller one‑acre neighbour – rise like up‑turned shells on the horizon, encircled by a wide, boulder‑strewn reef that has claimed ships for centuries. Designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive (IE0004118), the islands support a nationally important breeding colony of great cormorants and a rich intertidal flora.
Geology and Formation
The islands are composed of dark quartzites with inter‑bedded pale‑green and purple slates, part of the Shelmaliere Formation within the wider Cahore Group. These rocks were laid down in the late Cambrian, around 500 million years ago, when the Leinster Basin collected sediments that later hardened into the resilient quartzite that now forms the islands’ low cliffs. The exposed bedrock on the northern shore of the larger island provides a striking example of this ancient geology.
History and Ownership
Early use
In the early 19th century, after numerous wrecks on the treacherous reef, locals built a modest stone refuge on the larger island for shipwrecked crews; its crumbling walls still crown the summit.
Shipwrecks
The reef earned the nickname “Graveyard of a Thousand Ships” for Ballyteige Bay. Notable wrecks include:
- Demarara (1819) – cargo of sugar, rum, coffee and cotton; seventeen lives lost.
- Niobe (1847) – carrying maize for famine relief; all crew perished.
- Mexico (1914) – a Norwegian barque laden with mahogany; the disaster led to the tragic loss of nine members of the Fethard‑on‑Sea lifeboat Helen Blake.
1914 Lifeboat tragedy
On 20 February 1914 the Mexico ran aground. The Helen Blake lifeboat was launched but was smashed against the rocks, killing nine of its fourteen crew. Survivors – the remaining lifeboat crew and eight Norwegian sailors – clung to the exposed reef for two days until two Rosslare‑Fort lifeboatmen, Bill Duggan and Jim Wickham, rescued them in a daring dinghy operation. A stone memorial at the island’s summit bears the inscription “in memory of the Helen Blake lifeboat and crew 1914”.
Later associations
Later in 1914 the islands were searched for arms intended for the Irish Volunteers, linking them to the wider struggle for independence. Historical speculation suggests the islands may once have hosted a breeding colony of the now‑extinct great auk, and they were a focal point for a short‑lived roseate tern restoration project in the 1910s and again in the 1980s.
Land ownership
Following the Cromwellian plantation, the islands formed part of the Boyse estate. In the mid‑20th century they passed through several private owners and are currently owned by Katrin Herrling, daughter of the late German businessman Richard Herrling.
Wildlife
Great Cormorants
The islands support one of Ireland’s most important breeding colonies of great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo). From May to September the cliffs are swarmed by these glossy black birds, their white wing patches flashing in the sun. The colony is protected under the SPA designation.
Terns and other seabirds
Roseate terns (Sterna dougallii) were recorded breeding here in 1917‑1918, and a small restoration effort began in 1986 before being redirected to more successful sites. Although the colony did not become permanent, the islands remain a potential nesting area for terns. Winter brings gulls and wildfowl that use the predator‑free islands as night roosts.
Historical birds
Speculation based on early 19th‑century accounts suggests the islands may once have hosted the great auk (Pinguinus impennis), a large flightless seabird that became extinct in the mid‑1800s.
Visiting & Activities
- Boat trips – Private boat hire and local charter services operate from Wexford Harbour and Rosslare‑Fort. Day‑trip operators often combine a visit to the Keeraghs with a stop at the Saltee Islands.
- Kayaking – Experienced kayakers can paddle the surrounding reef at high tide, but the waters are hazardous; a tide table should be consulted and a life‑jacket worn at all times.
- Birdwatching – The best period for cormorants is May‑September; early morning or late evening offers the most active displays. Bring binoculars and respect the 200 m buffer zone around nesting sites.
- Photography – Low tide reveals the full extent of the boulder‑strewn reef, creating dramatic foregrounds for sunrise shots. Sunset views often include the distant Saltee Islands on the horizon.
- Coastal walk – A short walk along Blackhall Strand provides tide‑pools, low cliffs and excellent viewpoints of the islands. The strand is family‑friendly and has a small unpaved car park (≈5 spaces).
Practical Information
- Access – The islands are uninhabited and free to visit. Landing is only possible by private boat or charter; there is no regular ferry service.
- Parking – An unpaved parking area with roughly five spaces is available at the southern end of Blackhall Strand. Arrive early, especially in good weather.
- Nearest town – Wexford town, about 30 km to the north, provides additional amenities, cafés and accommodation.
- Safety – The surrounding reef is hazardous. Only experienced boaters should attempt a landing, and all visitors must keep a safe distance from nesting birds in accordance with SPA regulations.
- Facilities – Toilets, a small café and an information board are located at Blackhall Strand and Cullenstown Beach.
- Tide information – The reef is exposed at low tide, offering the best views of the islands and their geology. Check local tide tables before planning a boat or kayak trip.
- Seasonal notes – During the main breeding season (April‑September) a 200 m exclusion zone around the islands is enforced for bird protection; landing is discouraged.
For further details on the SPA designation, see the official NPWS page: https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/spa/004118.