Inishkea Islands, Co. Mayo. Pirates, Poitín and the Colour Purple.

Inishkea Islands, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

The little known INISHKEA ISLANDS lie off the
Mullet Peninsula on the west coast of Mayo.

The islands get their name from the BARNACLE GEESE
that fly in from Greenland each winter.
It is home to a huge array of other WILDLIFE.

They are surrounded by CRYSTAL CLEAR WATERS and
its beaches are covered by a SOFT WHITE SAND.

The islands have been UNINHABITED since the 1930’s,
following a terrible fishing tragedy in 1927.

10 FISHERMEN lost their lives in a sudden storm on that
October night. Many more narrowly escaped death.

Time has taken its toll on the ABANDONED VILLAGES
and the white sand fills the floors of the ruined cottages.

The islands were the location of a WHALING STATION
in the early 20th Century.

It’s presence caused TENSION between the north and south
islands. It was said that the south islanders got the jobs
but the north islanders were left with just the foul smell.

Inishkea North has the ruins of St. COLMCILLE’S CHURCH,
Bailey Mór, Bailey Beag and Bailey Dóite.

The monks earned a living by producing valuable PURPLE
DYE from shells. By law only royalty could wear purple.

The south island has a TALL CROSS inscribed
slab and the ruins of a small ancient church.

Unlike other areas in the west of Ireland, the FAMINE
did not appear to effect the islands as badly.

The PREVAILING WINDS kept the potato blight away from
the islands and the islanders were expert fishermen.

During those years, the islanders took up PIRACY,
attacking passing ships and hijacking their cargos.

They were also expert distillers and reputedly produced the best POITÍN in
Ireland. Needless to say it was very much sought after.

Their REMOTE LOCATION, far from prying eyes,
allowed them time to CAREFULLY CRAFT their illicit produce.

They used COPPER STILLS handed down from
generation to generation and hid away by suspending it by ropes in
deep sea caverns between brews!

At one time the islanders possessed an ancient idol known
as the NAOMHÓG or GODSTONE.

It was believed to hold SUPERNATURAL POWERS.
It could calm a storm when their own boats were
at sea or create one to wreck passing ships.

The south islanders STOLE it from their neighbours
on the north island because it was also believed to
possess MAGICAL POWERS to stimulate crop growth!

It was kept in a hut on the south island and dressed
in a new suit of HOMESPUN FLANNEL each year.

In the 1890’s, the LOCAL CURATE, Fr. O’Reilly, grew tired
of its pagan ways and threw the Naomhóg into the sea.

He DIED shortly afterwards!

The islanders believed it was because of the
destruction of the Naomhóg

GERAGHTY CHARTERS operate regular trips to
the islands from both Blacksod and Achill Island.

*Video produced by Blue Flag Media with assistance from Solar 21 Renewable Energy.

*Music licensed by Storyblocks.