Island 426 - Gooreen, County Galway

Gooreen is a low-lying, thin, uninhabited tidal island 2 miles north west of the village of Cleggan in County Galway.  When I visited in mid May 2018  there were lots of wild flowers in bloom e.g. sea mayweed, buttercups, daisies, scurvy grass, dandelions, sandwort, silverweed and thrift.  I also identified sea holly and thistles, which weren't in flower. Some of the rocks were covered in golden and grey/green lichens.

Having studied some late 19th century Ordnance Survey maps of the island,  I think that Gooreen used to be longer and closer to its neighbour Roeillaun than it currently is, but that it has been eroded by the sea. It is currently about 130 metres from north to south by 40 metres from east to west.  It is separated from the mainland by a 150 metre long sand tombolo with a short section of pebbles to cross at the island end.

Gooreen from the mainland

 

Gooreen

 

Looking north from Gooreen towards Roeillaun

 

Sea mayweed in flower on Gooreen - looking south towards the mainland

 

Looking south towards Gooreen