About Inishbofin - An idyllic island getaway.
7 miles off the Connemara coast, and only 5 miles long by 3 wide, Inishbofin is an idyllic island getaway.
7 miles off the Connemara coast, and only 5 miles long by 3 wide, Inishbofin is an idyllic island getaway.
Quiet roads are perfect for walking and cycling. Mountain trails lead you to rugged cliffs, sea stacks and sandy beaches with clean, clear waters, ideal for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. Nature lovers can enjoy the bird life, seal colonies and wildflowers. Traditional farming methods have ensured the survival of rare flora and fauna, such as the corncrake.
InisBóFinne (Island of the White Cow) is an island steeped in history and legend. The magnificent mile long harbour has played a major role in the island’s history and survival. The island has been inhabited continuously for around 10,000 years.
Today we can still see the remains of ancient Neolithic field systems, Bronze Age stone terraces and Iron Age promontory forts. The first recorded history states that St. Colman left Lindisfarne and arrived here in 665 and founded a monastery. Some 7th Century crosses and a bullaun stone still survive from the original monastery.
At the mouth of the harbour stands the impressive star shaped fort known as Cromwell’s Barracks. It was built around 1656 on the site of an earlier castle reputedly belonging to a Spanish pirate Don Bosco, an ally of pirate Queen Grace O’Malley. Together they controlled traffic in and out of the harbour.
Today, fishing, farming and tourism are the main industries. This welcoming island is small and friendly and waiting to be explored.
Stay with us in the Dolphin Hotel and experience all that Inishbofin has to offer.
