Location Atlantic Ocean Population 39 | County Mayo Province Connacht | |
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Inishbiggle (Inis Bigil in Irish) is a small inhabited island off the coast of Ballycroy in Co. Mayo. Its name in Irish means "Island of Fasting."
Contents
Map of Inishbiggle, Co. Mayo, Ireland
GeographyEdit
The island is situated between the northeast of Achill Island and the mainland, and is accessed by boat from either Doran's point at Ballycroy or Bullsmouth, Dooniver on Achill Island.The island is 2½ km x 1½ km, or 650 acres (2.6 km2) in area.
DescriptionEdit
The main activities are sheep and cattle farming, fishing and winkle picking. Facilities on the island included a school and a post office, both now closed. Plans to build a cable-car link across the very dangerous Bullsmouth Channel, one of the strongest currents in Europe separating the island from Achill had been under discussion since 1996, but have now been abandoned due to the high cost and the money was given towards the Achill bridge redevelopment. Unpredictable currents in the channel during winter months can render the island inaccessible, even though the passage during fair weather is about ten minutes in the traditional boat, the currach. Emergency access is by helicopter.
The population is now down to a few dozen, almost all elderly. All speak Irish Gaelic as their first and community language.
DemographicsEdit
The table below reports data on Inishbiggle's population taken from Discover the Islands of Ireland (Alex Ritsema, Collins Press, 1999) and the Census of Ireland.