Visit Inishmurray.

Inishmurray(Muiredach in Gaelic) is an Irish island less than 10km off the coast of Ireland. The island has been uninhabited since 1948 and is famous for the superb remains of a ruined monastery dating back to the 6th century. A major pilgrimage site, Inishmurray is also a popular tourist destination…

History of Inishmurray

An island once inhabited by monks

The first traces of habitation on the island date back to the 6th century, when a group of monks decided to build a monastery. The monks chose Inishmurray for its somewhat remote geographical location, enabling them to lead a reclusive life on the bangs of society at the time… They devote themselves to prayer, calligraphy and the illumination of old manuscripts…

The monastery gradually developed into an important religious and cultural center in Co. de Sligo, until 807, when the monastery of St. Molaise was attacked by the Vikings. After this period, the monastery became somewhat neglected, attracting the arrival of inhabitants who wished to occupy the island…

Inishmurray abandoned by its inhabitants in 1948

By 1880, the island had more than 100 inhabitants… There’s also a school and around 15 houses… The inhabitants live mainly from sheep farming and fishing, but living conditions on Inishmurray are difficult… Faced with the precariousness of their daily lives, the last inhabitants left the island on November 12, 1948, leaving it uninhabited…

Since then, the island has been visited by tourists and is a place of pilgrimage for devout Irish…

Visit Inishmurray

Walkers and hikers can enjoy Inishmurray for a short walk… The island is indeed small, measuring no more than 0.9 km²! A walk along the island’s coastline, with its craggy landscapes and plunging ocean views, is well worth the detour!

Nature is particularly wild here, and you’ll be able to observe some fabulous plant and animal species during your walk… There is also a high concentration of birds in the areas most exposed to the ocean winds…