Saltee Islands
The Saltee Islands (Irish: Oileán an tSalainn) are a pair of small islands lying three miles off the southern coast of County Wexford. The two islands are Great Saltee (220 acres) and Little Saltee (91 acres). They have been largely unoccupied since the early 20th century and have been privately owned by the Neale family since 1943. Together the islands cover an area of half a square mile.
The name is from the Old Norse Salt ey: 'salt island'.[1])
Protected status
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The islands are a breeding ground for fulmar, gannet, shag, kittiwake, guillemot, razorbill, puffin and grey seal. An area surrounding both islands and extending approximately 500 yards off-shore was granted the status of a Special Protection Area to protect the bird habitat. The islands are also at the centre of a related Special Area of Conservation named after them, extending to the mainland coastline east of Kilmore Quay. The conservation area specifically addresses: the mud and sand flats on the mainland coastline as well as those surrounding the mainland facing sides of Little Saltee; large shallow inlets and bays to the west of an imaginary line joining Kilmore Quay and Great Saltee; reefs throughout the entire area; the vegetated sea cliffs which surround both islands; sea caves along the south coast of Great Saltee and the entire area as a grey seal habitat with specific reference to both islands as important sites, including for breeding, along with some areas further out also of interest as moult and resting haul-out sites.[2]
Popular culture
- The Saltee Islands are the setting for Eoin Colfer's book Airman as a powerful sovereign state based around diamond industry. However, the book is a work of fiction and no significant natural resources have been found.
Location
- Location map: 52°7’0"N, 6°36’-0"W
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Saltee Islands) |
References
- ↑ Sheehan, John; Hansen, Steffen Stummann; ó Corráin, Donnchadh (2001). "A Viking Age Maritime Haven: A Reassessment of the Island Settlement at Beginish, Co. Kerry". The Journal of Irish Archaeology 10: 93–119. https://www.jstor.org/stable/30001672. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ↑ NPWS (2011) Conservation Objectives: Saltee Islands SAC 000707 and Saltee Islands SPA 004002. Version 1.0. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht., accessed 20 January 2016
- Deane, C.D.: 'On the wild island kingdom of Great Saltee'; 'Belfast News Letter', 7 December 1974
- Moran, J. 1980. Kings of the Great Saltee The Countryman Winter 1979/80, Vol 84, p85-91
