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The Aran Islands
Top 10 Things to do on the Aran Islands
Dún Aonghasa
Culture & History
Aran Islands Landscape
Property for sale
Inis Mor Island
Places to See
Dún Aonghasa
The Worm Hole
The Seal Colony
Kilmurvey Beach
Seven Churches
Teampall Bheanain
Things to do
Rent a Bike
Rent an E bike
Scuba Diving
Fishing
Bus Tours on Inishmore
Pony Trap Tour
Eat & Drink
Shopping
Plan your Trip
Getting Here
Getting Around
Accommodation
Nightlife
Itineraries
Inis Meáin Island
Places to See
Leaba Chinnderig – Saint Kenderrig’s grave
Cathaoir Synge
Dún Crocbhur (Conor’s Fort)
Dún Fearbhaí (Ferboy’s Fort)
Things to do
Rent a Bicycle
Bus Tour
Eat & Drink
Shopping
Plan your Trip
Getting Here
Getting Around
Accommodation
Nightlife
Itineries
Inis Oírr Island
Places to See
The Plassey
O’Briens Castle
The Lighthouse
Teampall Chaomhan
Things to do
Bus Tour
Rent a Bicycle
Pony & Trap Tour
Eat & Drink
Shopping
Plan your Trip
Getting Here
Getting Around
Accommodation
Nightlife
Itineraries
Plan
Getting to the Aran Islands
Getting Around
Accommodation
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Aran Islands Blog
Archive by "Paul Mullen"
Paul Mullen
May 5, 2023
By
Paul Mullen
Paul Mullen
Inishmore – the 2nd most popular staycation destination in Ireland
The Ultimate Guide to County Galway
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Aran Islands
Top 10 Things to do on the Aran Islands
Culture & History
The three Aran Islands are fascinating historically and culturally because they are such remote islands in the past few hundred years have developed a very rich civilization or lifestyle that is particular to themselves. Living out in the Atlantic ocean, getting food from the sea and shoreline, living on a rocky island with very little soil for growing any food. The islanders had to survive but in their survival they developed a very rich culture. The three Aran Islands have produced wonderful writers, poets, they have a unique style of singing (shanous singing), they speak the Irish language with a particular dialect of irish language which is Connaught Irish or Connemara irish , they have set dancers some of them particularly unique to the Aran Islands. They also developed various crafts, Aran Knitwear, Baron playing, experts at dry stonewall building. There is a lot in the culture and History in the Aran Islands. If you go back far enough, these three Aran Islands were strategic islands along the mouth of Galway Bay and is perhaps why people came to even live on the Aran Islands. Because of that you have these ancient forts on each of the three Aran Islands…
Forts & Cliffs
The Irish word Dún means fort and the islands are famous for their stone forts. These are thought to date from the late Bronze age( 1100BC) through to the Iron age (300BC-500AD). There are a number of forts found on the three islands. They are part of a complex of such structures found along the west coast of Ireland from Donegal in the north to Kerry in the south. Over the past decade a number of these forts including Dún Aonghasa on Inis Mór have been excavated as part of ‘The Western Stone Forts Project’. What the function of these forts was is unclear. Some suggest as well as being habitation sites they may also have been used for ritual purposes.( cf. Stone Forts of Inis Mór/ Inis Meáin/ Inis Oírr) Bronze and Iron Age Stone Forts on Inis Mór. There are four main stone forts on Inis Mór at Dún Dubh Chathair, Dún Eochla, Dún Aonghasa and Dún Eoghanachta. The only one where an excavation has been carried out is Dún Aonghasa. There are also minor forts found on the island. These forts date from the Bronze Age(1500BC-500BC) and Iron Age( 500BC-500AD) The Irish word Dún means fort and…
The Aran Sweater
The Man of Aran Film
Property for sale
A Guide to Inis Mor (Inishmore)
Activities & Things to do
Activities and things to do on Inis Mor, The Aran Islands are abundant and varied. Inis Mor offers the chance to participate in any number of exercises and occasions. Whilst the most popular things to do include cycling the Island, visiting the monuments, cliffs, and beaches, there are exercises and occasions to suit all preferences, guaranteeing that at whatever point you visit Inis Mor, there is continually something fascinating to do!. These range from Pony and Trap tours, bus tours, Goats cheese visits, experience center visits, wining and dining, Shopping for an Aran Sweater, going for a picnic, bird watching, attending a festival, or getting married!!. Here, you can discover a few instances of the occasions and exercises you may give when you visit Inis Mor.
Natural Features
The islands strike one immediately as being like a desert of rock. They are in fact a continuation of the ‘boireann’ (burren) limestone rock in Co Clare to which they were once joined millions of years ago. Owing to the limestone landscape the islands enjoy a rare flora and fauna and are a haven for botanists. From May time onwards the visitor can enjoy a tremendous profusion of colour which marks an attractive contrast to the grey limestone rock. The warmth of the Bloody Crane’s- Bill( Crobh Dhearg) or Spring Gentian( Ceadharlach Bealtaine) in bloom are just two such examples among many. Some flowers such as Purple Milk Vetch( ) are uniquely found in Inis Mór and Inis Meáin and are not found elsewhere in Ireland.
Accommodation
The Aran Islands has great accommodation options that suit any budget All three Islands (Inis Mór Island, Inis Meáin Island, Inis Oírr Island) have high standard Bed and Breakfast, Hotel, Hostel, Self Catering as well as Glamping & camping facilities. It is wise to book in advance over the summer months when arriving by ferry or flight from the Galway, or Doolin (Cliffs of Moher) area. Bed and Breakfast/Guest House accommodation can be booked by phone or via standard website booking. Renting a bike is the most popular way of getting around.
Churches & Celtic Sites
Dine and Shop
Getting to Inis Mór
A Guide to Inis Meáin (Inishmaan) Island
Natural Features
Churches & Celtic Sites
Activities
Accommodation
Getting to Inis Meáin
A Guide to Inis Oírr (Inisheer)
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Getting to Inis Oírr
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