Inishmurray is a small island, with outlying dangerous rocks to the north of it, and a clear passage between it and the south shore of Donegal bay. It lies 4 miles from Ballyconnel Point, and 3 miles from Streedagh Point, the nearest part of the shore abreast. The island is about a mile long and 66 feet high, bounded by low cliffs based on a rocky foreshore. Its eastern end, called Rue Point, terminates in a stony spit.

Attentive navigation is required and it affords tolerable shelter.

Keyfacts for Inishmurray

Position and approaches

Haven position

54° 25.796' N, 008° 39.695' W

this is the position of Inishmurray quay.

What is the initial fix?

this is the position in the North Atlantic Ocean midway between Ballyconnell Point and Inishmurray island.

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How to get in?

The 'Erris Head to Malin Head' coastal description provides approach information to the suggested initial fix. Vessels approaching from the south should select the northeast bound sequenced description; vessels approaching from the north should select the southwest bound sequence; western approaches may use either description.

Inishmurray island is situated between Sligo Bay and Donegal Bay, 4 miles north of Ballyconnell Point and 7 miles southwest of Mullaghmore Head, in the North Atlantic Ocean in County Sligo on the west coast of Ireland.

From Sligo Bay to Mullaghmore Head the coast should be given a wide berth in any height of sea from the west. A course halfway between the shore on the mainland and Inishmurray is a safe one. Along this coast a good lookout should be kept for lobster pots which are often set very far out.

With any sea or at low water, caution should be taken to avoid the shoal patches close to the east and northeast of the island. Also Bomore Rock and its outliers 1.5 miles north of the island must be given a wide berth.

Clashymore Harbour is a rocky gut on the south side of the island, off which in calm weather only a yacht may be anchored in a depth of 7 metres in weed over rock, and where it is advisable to have a trip line on the anchor. On the east side of the gut there are natural quays and mooring rings where local boats go alongside at high water, which also provides a good spot for a dinghy landing that becomes more difficult at low water. Landing can be difficult even at the quay which is not very sheltered and distinctly open to the southeast.

Landing can also be had onto rocks further west on the south side of the island in the often more sheltered deeply indented coves west of the village. This spot though sheltered is suitable for dinghies that can be tethered or anchored, and then hop or step onto the rocks or slabs.

Why visit here?

Located about 3 miles west off Streedagh Point on the mainland coast, Inishmurray is a lovely remote island with an interesting history both ancient and recent. In suitable weather conditions it is well worth a visit to see the remarkable collection of unusually well preserved 6th century monastic buildings, which were built on the site of an original pagan fort.

This ruined settlement founded by Columba is inside a Bronze Age fortification the walls of which were once 4.5 metres high but now only half that. The enclosure of cells, bee-hives, churches, altars, and carved stones, which make the island a must for visit, are in better condition after 1400 years than the village houses after 100. The menfolk of the island were buried inside the enclosure and the women outside, 150 metres away at Teampalnamban.

The island was pagan until Columba built a new monastery inside the fort and installed St. Molaise as Abbot. Almost immediately the monastery gained fame, and on a visit back Columba borrowed a book from the library and without telling the Abbot he copied it. Molaise was furious and demanded the return of the copy. Denied, he appealed to Diarmuid the High King, who was then like the Supreme Court is today. His judgement was “to every cow its calf, to every book its copy”, which was probably the first copyright decision in Western Europe. Worse was to come, Columba still wouldn't return the copy, and Diarmuid feeling that he was being challenged, set out westwards with an army 3,000 strong to punish Columba and his followers. Columba was resoundingly beaten outside Sligo with the loss of all his men, and he was so upset by the unanticipated consequences of his thievery that he relented and presented himself to Molaise in confession. As penance Molaise banished Columba to Scotland, never to return until he had converted to Christianity as many as the 3,000 killed in the battle. Columba sailed and landed at Iona and there founded his greatest ever monastery, never to return to Ireland.

Inishmurray was infamous for the making of poitin. There being no easy landing point on the island, visits by the authorities were few. This enabled the islanders to distill the best illicit whiskey in the country, marketed as “Old Inishmurray”. When the Revenue officials did come they had to hire boats locally, and word soon got round to the islanders that they were about to receive a visit. Forewarned by the time the Revenue officials got ashore the illicit brew was well hidden and prosecutions avoided.

The islanders of Inishmurray were renowned for a combined rowing/sailing technique unique in Ireland, which made them the safest, fastest and bravest sailors around.

In 1915 a British warship mistook the island for a submarine, and torpedoed it. It was thought that the old fort was mistaken for a conning tower. None of the islanders were hurt.

There are no facilities on the island, but it is well worth a visit to sailors if on passage from Aughris Head to Rathlin O'Birne.

What facilities are available?

There are no facilities at this location.

With thanks to:

inyourfootsteps.com site research.