9 Fun Facts About Inis Mór
If you’re planning an adventure in Ireland this year, make sure the Aran Islands are on your list. This group of three little islands in Galway Bay are unusual, unique, and extremely culturally significant to Ireland.
Not only is the Irish language still spoken here, but you can also visit quaint thatched cottages, see unspoiled rural landscapes, and walk on stunning sandy shores in the footsteps of saints and scholars.
The largest island, Inis Mór, is the most popular and developed of the three, with a significant community of year-round residents, becoming a thriving tourism hub in the summer months.
From famous movie scenes to ancient Irish traditions, cool artisan crafts, and irreverent festivals, Inis Mór is as unique as it sounds.
Get to know the island before you arrive with these fun insider facts about Inis Mór – what to know before you go!
1. What's in a Name? Everything!
The Irish aren’t exactly famous for naming things. Often, place names are a functional representation of the landscape, and most place names are made up of elements of nature, buildings like churches, or geographical features nearby. Inis Mór literally means ‘Big Island.’ Combined with Inis Meáin (Middle Island) and Inis Oírr (East Island), you’ll see that the Irish language can be extremely literal.
Notice the Irish language signs around the island and try to decipher them yourself. Sometimes it’s as easy as Inis Mór!
2. Small but Mighty!
At 31km squared, Inis Mór may be somewhat small, but did you know Inis Mór is actually Ireland's biggest true island? While Achill can lay its claim to this title, it also has a connecting bridge that can be reached at any time, day or night. Unlike Inis Mór, Achill islanders do not rely on boats and ferries for connection with the mainland.
The residents of the Aran Islands are isolated in a completely different way. The Aran Archipelago is made up of true islands.
3. The Banshees of… Inis Mór?
Inis Mór has formed the backdrop for some spectacular and classic movies over the years, including 'The Match Maker', 'Leap Year' and most recently, Martin McDonagh’s 2022 masterpiece 'The Banshees of Inisherin'. Visitors to Inis Mór flock to identify the stone-walled green fields and impressive cliffs—all locations where Colm and Padraic’s friendship dwindled so dramatically!
Alas, visiting Padraic’s quaint traditional Irish Cottage is impossible—the set was dismantled and removed after filming. However, you can still see the isolated location near the town of Gort na gCapall and scenes shot at Dún Aonghasa (pictured below). Ask any local!
4. The Beautiful, Barren Burren
The islands are a continuation of the unique Burren landscape found in the west coast counties of Galway and Clare. Made up of limestone karst with deep grikes, or crevices, are home to a unique mix of Arctic, Alpine, and Mediterranean Basin plants and shrubs. There are many butterflies, moths, and hoverflies that call the islands home.
The word Burren comes from the Irish ‘boíreann,’ which means rocky place. That famous Irish nomenclature strikes again!
Karst Limestone on Inis Mór
5. ‘Man of Aran’
In the 1930s, filmmaker Robert J Flaherty spend 2 years on Inis Mór, observing the people, the traditions, and their way of life. He captured scenes of island life in a way they had never been seen before – islanders hunting sharks, fishing from great heights off the side of cliffs, mending nets and rods, rendering shark liver oil for lamps, and even farming potatoes in the cracks between the rock in the bleak, hostile environment.
The resulting silent documentary was released in 1933 to great fanfare and some controversy. Many of the scenes were reconstructed and the ‘family’ featured were chosen from the islanders for their appearance. Hugely topical in film circles, inspiring conversation about what ‘documentary film’ actually means, Man of Aran is seen as a seminal docu-drama, tremendously important in the development of the genre.
The movie is so significant in cinematic history that there was even a documentary made about the making of the documentary!
6. Meitheal Magic
The islands are home to an incredibly tight-knit community, with around 820 residents who live on Inis Mór year-round. The island has been inhabited by one community or another since around 3,000 BC! The remote nature of the islands, coupled with unpredictable, often dire weather from the Atlantic, means these brave souls are hardy and resilient. They also know how to look after each other.
Meitheal (pronounced Meh-hal) is the rural Irish tradition of helping each other out and working as a group to accomplish goals for the greater good. If you need help or have a question, ask. Locals are almost guaranteed to chat to you. Today, you’ll find plenty of old Irish camaraderie, or ‘Meitheal,’ left on the Aran Islands!
7. The Best Fest in the West
Every March, hundreds of Father Ted fanatics descend on Inis Mór for Ted Fest, a weekend of shenanigans, fancy dress, and re-enactment dedicated to the late great Irish actor and co-creator of the TV show Dermot Morgan. Featuring gaggles of nuns, boatloads of Bishop Brennans, and more Father Jacks than you could shake your fist at, Ted Fest is a bonkers experience, not to be missed for die-hard fans of the show.
Events during the 3-day tournament include the Craggy Cup, Teds Got Talent, and an island-wide search for contestants for the Lovely Girls Competition. If you fancy a weird and whacky weekend full of in-character silliness, why not visit the island during Ted Fest. Go on. Go on, go on, go on!
8. Recovered Mystery, Restored History
Towards the western end of the island, near Breaffy Woods, you’ll find a vast message written in carefully placed limewashed stones. It reads Eire 50 and is one of more than 80 Eire signs, measuring 12 metres by 6 metres, dotted along the Irish coasts. Not a note from a giant, but an excellent way to identify the island from above, as was the reason for the construction of these markings in wartime 1943 – to inform pilots overhead that the land was, in fact, Ireland – militarily neutral at the time.
Many Eire signs, such as Eire 50, have been uncovered and reconstructed by coastal communities and are enjoying a new lease of life as tourist attractions!
Photo credit - Aran Photography
9. Pedalling in Paradise
Visitors are often astounded by the sheer number of bicycles on the island. However, as the roads are mainly smoothly paved and vehicular traffic is practically non-existent, locals and tourists rely on humble bikes to get around. Cycling is low-impact, emission-free, and a sustainable way to see the sights. Bicycle rental is easy and affordable, and bikes are available at the pier, including electric bikes and others modified for children and pets!
With the wind at your back, cycling on Inis Mór is a breeze!
As you can see, the island is full of interesting places to visit and things to do. Board an Aran Islands Ferry and experience Inis Mór for yourself!