Arranmore

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Revision as of 22:36, 20 April 2025 by RB (talk | contribs) (Created page with "{{Infobox island |name=Arranmore |irish=Árainn Mhór |county=Donegal |picture=Arranmore, Co. Donegal (Aerial 2007).jpg |picture caption=Aerial view of Arranmore (left) |os grid ref=B665155 |latitude=54.98953 |longitude=-8.53089 |group= |main village=Leabgarrow |population=478 |census year=2022 }} '''Arranmore''' is an island off the west coast of County Donegal. It is the largest inhabited island of County Donegal, with a population of 478 in 2022, but has had a gra...")
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Arranmore
Irish: Árainn Mhór

County Donegal


Aerial view of Arranmore (left)
Main village: Leabgarrow
Location
Location: 54°59’22"N, 8°31’51"W
Grid reference: B665155
Data
Population: 478  (2022)

Arranmore is an island off the west coast of County Donegal. It is the largest inhabited island of County Donegal, with a population of 478 in 2022, but has had a gradually falling native population since the 1990s. Its main settlement is Leabgarrow. The island is part of the Gaeltacht, with most of the inhabitants speaking Ulster Irish.

The island lies three miles off Burtonport, a small coastal village in The Rosses. The island is served by two ferry services, which operate between Arranmore and Burtonport on the mainland. The two operators make use of vessels previously built for Caledonian MacBrayne, allowing both to carry passengers, cars, and heavy-goods vehicles.

The name Árainn Mhór means 'Great Kidney / Ridge'. It is also known in English as 'Aran Island'.[1] The same name is found in the Aran Islands in Galway Bay and the Isle of Arran in Buteshire. In Irish it was traditionally called Árainn; the adjective mór (large) was added fairly recently. It was also sometimes called Árainn Uí Dhomhnaill, 'Aran of the O'Donnells'.

Population

Traditional housing on Arranmore

Most of the population lives along the southern and (comparatively sheltered) eastern coast, where the main village, Leabgarrow, is located. The island has been settled since pre-Celtic times, and the few remaining signs of early settlement include a promontory fort to the south of the island[2] and shell middens dotted along the beaches. Its position near the Atlantic shipping lanes was exploited, with a coast guard station and a lighthouse positioned on the most north-westerly point, and a Second World War monitoring post.

Leabgarrow

The permanent population is 478, but this rises to well over 1,000 during the summer. A large proportion of the housing stock is holiday homes, with both native islanders and their descendants, as well as nonlocals.

Appeal to foreigners

In 2019, due to the long decline in population, islanders wrote open letters to the United States and Australia, asking people to consider moving to the island. They encouraged both populations to come to the less crowded island and enjoy "time for living".[3] In 2022, following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the island became a refuge for Ukrainian refugees who were resettled in Ireland.[4]

Arranmore Lighthouse

Irish language

There are 469 people living on Arranmore and 62% are native Irish speakers. During the summer, students of all ages from all over Ireland travel to the island for a 3-week holiday. It is a very popular way of meeting new people and also learning the Irish language. Students attend school during the day and play games and ceilí dance in the evenings. They are taught about the Irish language through Irish. Irish must be spoken at all times.[5] The college on Arranmore is known as Coláiste Árainn Mhóir, meaning the College of Arranmore.[6]

Lifeboat and coast guard

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station on the island is equipped with the largest class of vessel the service has, a Severn class lifeboat. There has been an RNLI presence on the island since 1883, with the station having moved from Aphort to Leabgarrow and most recently to a purpose-built station at Poolawaddy in 1997.[7] The crews of the station have been involved in some major rescues over the years, including that of the SS Stolwijk, for which the crew received medals from both the RNLI and the Dutch state. A monument to this rescue was unveiled in 2017.[8]

A helipad was constructed in Aphort in the early 2000s which can land a Sikorsky S-92 aircraft as used by the Irish Coast Guard.[9]

Places and villages on Arranmore Island

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Arranmore)

References


Lighthouses of the Commissioners of Irish Lights

County Donegal:  InishowenInishtrahullFanadDunreeBuncranaTory IslandArranmoreBallagh RocksRathlin O'BirneRotten IslandSt John's   County AntrimBlack HeadChaine MemorialThe MaidensRathlin EastRue PointRathlin West   County DownGreen IslandVidal BankHaulbowlineSt John's PointAngus RockDonaghadeeMew Island   County LouthDundalk   County DublinMuglinsPoolbegKish BankBailyHowth HeadRockabill   County WicklowWicklow Head   County WexfordDuncannonHook HeadTuskar Rock   County WaterfordMine HeadBallinacourty PointDunmore East   County CorkBull RockArdnakinnaCastletownRoancarrigSheep's HeadMizen HeadCrookhavenCopper PointFastnet RockBaltimore BeaconGalley HeadOld Head of KinsaleCharles FortRoches PointBallycottonYoughal   County KerryLittle SamphireInishtearaghtCromwell PointValentia RearValentia FrontSkelligs   County ClareBlackheadLoop HeadKilcredaun HeadCorlis Point FrontCorlis Point RearScattery Island   County GalwaySlyne HeadCashla BayEeraghStraw IslandInisheer   County MayoBroadhavenEagle IslandBlacksodBlacksod BayAchillbegInishgort County SligoBlackrockLower Rosses PointMetal ManOyster Island