Roonagh is the mainland end of two ferry routes: 15 to 25 minutes across to Clare Island, or a longer 50-minute run out to Inishturk. It is a working pier at the end of a long road west of Louisburgh, not a destination in itself, but the view while you wait for a boat is among the best on this coast, with Croagh Patrick behind you to the east and Mweelrea, north Connemara and the Achill cliffs spread out to the west. It’s a designated Wild Atlantic Way Signature Discovery Point, and on a clear day you’ll see why.
The ferries
The modern pier takes daily sailings, with far more of them through the summer. Crossings are weather-dependent, so check before you set out, especially from October to March.
Clare Island – 15 to 25 minutes across, served by O’Malley Ferries and Clare Island Ferry. Summer brings four or five sailings a day, easy for a day trip; winter usually drops to a morning and an evening boat. The island has a Blue Flag beach, coastal walking, a 15th-century Carmelite abbey and the tower house tied to Grace O’Malley, the 16th-century sea captain whose stronghold this was.
Inishturk – a longer, more exposed 50-minute crossing, with good chances of razorbills, gannets and summer puffins along the way. Two to three sailings a day in summer, one or two in winter. Schedules are tight in the cold months: on some days making the return boat means staying the night, and beds are limited to a few guesthouses and self-catering cottages, so book ahead.
Tickets for both are bought from the port-a-cabin in the car park before boarding. For live timetables, check the operators’ sites or the Discover Ireland Centre in Westport.
Grace O’Malley and the lights
The stone quay here is tidal and dates to the early 20th century, though boats have left from this inlet for far longer: Clare Island, just across the water, was the base of Grace O’Malley’s fleet in the 1500s. The pier’s more recent history is a story of lights. Two were installed in 1958, had worn out by 1976 and were replaced, and in 2011 the Clare Island ferry Pirate Queen struck a rock after the leading lights burned out. A new system went in the following year. The pier was extended by about 30 m in the early 2000s to take the bigger ferries, and the old tidal quay beside it is still used by local fishing boats.
Worth a stop?
Even without a ferry to catch, Roonagh earns a short stop. The exposed Atlantic setting is reliable for birds – kittiwakes, cormorants, the odd spring puffin – and the contrast between the low old stone quay, visible at low tide, and the clean level of the new pier makes for good photographs against the mountains.
Practical information
Getting there – From Westport it is about 21 km: take the R335 through Louisburgh, then follow the signs another 6 km or so to the pier down a narrow, winding road that gets busy at peak ferry times. A large car and coach park sits opposite the pier. Parking is normally free, though in high summer, when the main car park fills, an overflow field nearby has charged €5.
Facilities – The new pier is level and wheelchair-friendly, with tactile paving; the old tidal quay is uneven and best avoided if you have limited mobility. There are no toilets or food outlets on the pier itself. Benches, bins and an information kiosk are in the car park, and Louisburgh, about 6 km back, has the nearest cafés, pubs and shops.
Before you go – Verify sailings with the operators or the Louisburgh tourism office (+353 (0)98 25711); Atlantic weather here shifts fast, and last-minute cancellations happen. Arrive at the port-a-cabin at least 30 minutes before departure to get your ticket and board.
If the boat is cancelled or you have time to fill, the beaches south of Louisburgh are minutes away: Carrowniskey and the White Strand at Tallabawn are both within a short drive.