Tuesday 3 July 2018

Island 416 - Cahernaran Island, County Mayo

Cahernaran Island is a small, low lying uninhabited tidal island located 600 metres to the north of Murrisk Abbey and 5.5 miles to the west of the town of Westport in County Mayo on the south coast of Clew Bay.  There is a large free car park at the abbey, which has a large cemetery adjacent to it.  From the car park it is a short and easy walk along a track and then across a seaweed covered shingle ridge onto the island.  Cahernaran Island is a very strange shape - the bulk of the island is by the crossing point but there is also a very long thin grass covered "arm" that extends in an arc to the north east for about 500 metres.  A much shorter "arm" extends in a westerly direction for about 50 metres. 

Cahernaran Island has an impressive collection of gorse bushes growing on it and a wonderful view south to Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain.  Thrift, buttercups and sea mayweed were all in flower on the island when I visited in early May 2018.  The island has a small pond on the north side of the main part of the island.

Looking south towards Croagh Patrick from Cahernaran Island
 
Looking towards Croagh Patrick across the pond

Looking south west from the north east "arm" of Cahernaran Island

Stranded jellyfish on the beach
 
Looking north east from the north eastern "arm" of Cahernaran Island
 
Cahernaran Island from the mainland

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