Island 378 - Mweenish Island/Mainís, County Galway

Mweenish Island (Mainís in Irish) is linked to the mainland of County Galway a mile to the south of the village of Carna via three road causeways firstly to Rusheenacholla and then another one to Carra Island and a 3rd to Mweenish.  In 2011 Mweenish Island had a population of 145.  In 1841 before the Great Famine of the 1850s the population was 649.

There is a primary school on the island, which is low lying and approximately 3 km from north to south by 2 km from east to west at its widest points.   There are a couple of bed and breakfasts but no shop.  There are three small loughs/lochs on the island.  I saw a donkey and a few cattle grazing in some of the fields.

Primary School

Ruined house on the north east coast

Ruined house

Ruined house looking north towards Carna

Beach on north east coast

Ruined cottage by causeway

Boat and slipway near causeway