Island 423 - Inishlyon/Inis Laighean, Inishbofin, County Galway

Inishlyon (Inis Laighean in Irish) is an uninhabited tidal island located to the east of the beautiful East Beach on the south east coast of the island of Inishbofin.  It is just under a mile from east to west by about 400 metres from north to south.  The highest point on the island is 43 metres above sea level and the eastern end of the island is called Lyon Head.  The island is covered in rough grass and heather with some exposed outcrops of rocks.

I arrived at the crossing point a few minutes before low tide but there was still a channel of shallow water separating the island from Inishbofin, so I had to take my boots and socks off and paddle.  The water was only about 20cm deep and 20 metres wide and it was crystal clear but it was also icy cold!  A broken line of rocks almost connects Inishlyon to Inishbofin.  However it is much easier to cross to the island over the sand.

In 2015 an archaeologist called Erin Gibbon discovered a previously unrecorded  sunken village on Inishlyon.  The remains of four houses, two middens and a possible kelp kiln have been identified.  All of the houses are gradually being eroded by the sea.  Excavations were carried out in the summers of 2015, 2016 and 2017 and pottery, shells, metal objects, and bones of birds, fish and animals were found.
 

Inishbofin from Inishlyon

Looking north west from Inishlyon to Inishbofin

I think there may be some iron in the rocks

Looking north east towards Inishturk

Rock pool on Inishlyon

Rippled sand  looking towards Inishlyon

Different seaweeds in the crystal clear water

Inishlyon from Inishbofin

 

Inishlyon from East Beach on Inishbofin