Overview
The Keeragh Islands (Irish: Oileáin na gCaorach, meaning “Sheep Islands”) sit roughly 1.5 km off the south-eastern coast of County Wexford, just offshore from Blackhall Strand and Cullenstown Beach. Comprising a larger two-acre islet and a smaller one-acre neighbour, they rise from the Irish Sea like a pair of weathered, upturned shells. What looks peaceful from the shore hides a wide, boulder-strewn reef that has made navigation treacherous for centuries. Today, the islands are best known as a designated Special Protection Area (SPA) supporting one of Ireland’s most significant great cormorant breeding colonies, alongside a solemn memorial to a historic maritime tragedy.
Geology and Formation
The islands are built from dark quartzites interbedded with pale-green and purple slates, part of the Shelmaliere Formation within the wider Cahore Group. These rocks were deposited around 500 million years ago during the late Cambrian period, when the ancient Leinster Basin collected sediments that eventually compressed into the resilient quartzite forming the low cliffs today. The exposed bedrock along the northern shore offers a clear cross-section of this ancient marine environment, while the surrounding reef platform supports a rich diversity of seaweeds and intertidal life.
Shipwrecks and the Helen Blake Tragedy
The treacherous reef surrounding the Keeraghs has earned the wider Ballyteige Bay the grim nickname “Graveyard of a Thousand Ships.” In the early 19th century, locals constructed a modest stone refuge on the summit of the larger island to shelter sailors caught in sudden storms. The crumbling walls of this structure still crown the peak today.
The most devastating incident occurred on 20 February 1914. The Mexico, a Norwegian barque carrying a cargo of mahogany, ran aground in mountainous seas. The Fethard-on-Sea lifeboat, the Helen Blake, raced to the rescue but was smashed against the rocks. Nine of its fourteen crew were swept to their deaths, with their bodies washed ashore the following morning. The remaining five lifeboatmen joined eight surviving Norwegian sailors, who clung to the exposed reef for two days in freezing conditions.
Rescue attempts were repeatedly foiled by the gale until two Rosslare Fort lifeboatmen, Bill Duggan and Jim Wickham, launched a small dinghy. Over six exhausting trips in stormy seas, they ferried the survivors to safety two at a time. On the second trip, the dinghy was holed; the crew kept the sea out by plugging the breach with a loaf of bread wrapped in oilskins. A stone memorial at the island’s summit bears the inscription: “in memory of the Helen Blake lifeboat and crew 1914.”
The islands also feature in Ireland’s revolutionary history. Later in 1914, the Keeraghs were searched by authorities for arms intended for the Irish Volunteers, linking the remote islets to the wider struggle for independence.
Wildlife and Conservation
Designated as SPA IE0004118 under the EU Birds Directive, the Keeragh Islands are a haven for seabirds. Their most prominent residents are the great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo), which breed here from May to September. During these months, the cliffs and rocks are alive with glossy black birds, their white wing patches flashing as they dive for fish or tend to nests. The colony is strictly protected, and visitors must maintain a 200-metre buffer zone during the breeding season.
Historically, the islands supported breeding roseate terns, with records from 1917–1918 and a restoration attempt in the 1980s. Early 19th-century accounts also suggest the Keeraghs may have hosted one of Ireland’s last colonies of the great auk (Pinguinus impennis), a large flightless seabird that went extinct in the mid-1800s. In winter, the predator-free islets become a vital night roost for gulls, wildfowl, and migratory birds seeking safety from terrestrial predators.
Visiting the Keeragh Islands
Because the islands are uninhabited and surrounded by hazardous reef, access requires careful planning. Most visitors experience the Keeraghs from the mainland or via a private boat charter.
- Viewing from the coast: Blackhall Strand and Cullenstown Beach offer clear, unobstructed sightlines. Low tide reveals the full expanse of the reef and is ideal for coastal walks and photography.
- Boat trips: Local charter operators based in Wexford Harbour and Rosslare often include the Keeraghs in day-trip itineraries, frequently combining them with visits to the Saltee Islands. Private boat owners can approach the islands, but landing is strongly discouraged during the breeding season (April–September) to protect nesting birds.
- Kayaking: Experienced paddlers can navigate the waters at high tide. Conditions can change rapidly, so consulting tide tables and wearing a life jacket is essential.
- Photography: Early morning light casts long shadows across the reef, while sunset often frames the islands against the distant Saltees. A telephoto lens is recommended for capturing wildlife without disturbing the colony.
Practical Information
- Access: Uninhabited and free to view. No regular ferry service operates. Landing by private vessel is possible but subject to seasonal bird protection restrictions.
- Parking: A small unpaved car park with approximately five spaces is located at the southern end of Blackhall Strand. Arrive early, particularly on clear summer days.
- Facilities: Cullenstown Beach has public toilets, but there is no café available there. Blackhall Strand is a secluded beach with no public toilets or café facilities.
- Safety: The surrounding reef is extremely hazardous, especially at low tide. Boaters should exercise caution, and kayakers should only attempt the route in calm conditions with proper safety gear.
- Best time to visit: May to September offers the best wildlife viewing and milder sea conditions. Winter visits provide dramatic skies and excellent opportunities for spotting overwintering wildfowl.
- Conservation notes: The islands are a protected SPA. Please respect the 200-metre exclusion zone during breeding season and avoid landing on the islets to prevent disturbance to nesting birds.
For official conservation objectives and site documentation, visit the National Parks and Wildlife Service page: https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/spa/004118.