A Day in the Life of Inishmurray Island

Contribution by Chris Mahon

On Wednesday 27th May a group of ten enthusiasts including a writer, photographer, and fine artist boarded a boat at Mullaghmore Pier around 9 am. A Day in the Life of Inishmurray lay ahead. The temperature inland was expected to reach 24 degrees that day – perhaps a little less where we were headed. The blue sky and calm sea were good omens.

A Day in the Life of Inishmurray was kindly funded by Creative Ireland. This initiative enabled a number of artists to visit the island and to experience and capture their perspectives and thoughts on this unique space. The Creative Ireland Programme is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. This is an all-of-government culture and wellbeing programme whose goal is to inspire and transform people, places and communities through creativity.

After rounding the pier at Mullaghmore our boat took us north-westward offering a delightful view of North Sligo beaches and headlands and the Dartry Mountain range to the left. Cliffoney and Streedagh beaches, Raughley, Rosses Point and Strandhill were also identifiable. After about ½ an hour at sea the outline of Inishmurray appeared and a few cooling splashes of the Atlantic swept over the boat railing. Gradually as the boat approached our destination, signs of a life abandoned 78 years ago appeared. With our boatman’s expertise we landed smoothly. After stepping onto rocks, guided by Alan, we wound our way up to a flat open space. This would be our lunch time meeting place. For the next 2 hours we were all free to explore.

At sea with our first glimpses of Inishmurray island

After rounding the pier at Mullaghmore our boat took us north-westward offering a delightful view of North Sligo beaches and headlands and the Dartry Mountain range to the left. Cliffoney and Streedagh beaches, Raughley, Rosses Point and Strandhill were also identifiable. After about ½ an hour at sea the outline of Inishmurray appeared and a few cooling splashes of the Atlantic swept over the boat railing. Gradually, as the boat approached our destination, signs of a life abandoned 78 years ago appeared. With our boatman’s expertise we landed smoothly. After stepping onto rocks, guided by Alan, we wound our way up to a flat open space. This would be our lunch time meeting place. For the next 2 hours we were all free to explore.

Flora and Fauna

A large number of wildflowers were visible – see below. A small number of Shags or Cormorants were visible on rocks and in the sea at the eastern end of the island close to the school. However, they were too far away to distinguish head shapes. None appeared to be holding their wings out to dry so more likely to have been Shags. At this end of the island too, a bird sound similar to that of a pheasant surprised me. It’s probably unlikely that they could fly this distance from the mainland. A lone rabbit appeared out the dense weed growth nearby but scampered off before being photographed.