Inishturk ( Inis Toirc in Irish language, meaning Wild Boar Island) is an inhabited island of County Mayo, in Ireland.[Sometimes the island's name is reported as Inisturk, as for instance by Google Maps]
Geography
The island lies about off the coast; its highest point reaches above sea level.
Between Inisturk and
Clare Island lies
Caher Island. It has a permanent population of 58 people.
There are two main settlements, both on the more sheltered eastern end of the island, Ballyheer and Garranty. Bellavaun and Craggy are abandoned settlements.
History
Inishturk has been inhabited on and off since 4,000 BCE and has been inhabited permanently since at least 1700.
Some of the island's more recent inhabitants are descended from evacuees from
Inishark to the southwest.
A Martello tower was built during the Napoleonic Wars, , on Inishturk's western coast.
Recent history
In 1993, Inishturk Community centre was opened, this community centre doubles as a library and a pub. In June 2014 the ESB commissioned three new Broadcrown BCP 110-50 100
Volt-ampere diesel generators to supply electricity to the island.
The ESB have operated a diesel power station on the island since the 1980s.
Inishturk gained international attention in 2016 after a number of websites claimed that the island would welcome any American "refugees" fleeing a potential Donald Trump presidency.
The island is home to a primary school on the island which in 2011 had only 3 pupils; this is believed to be the smallest primary school in Ireland.
Demographics
The table below reports data on Inisturk's population taken from
Discover the Islands of Ireland (Alex Ritsema, Collins Press, 1999) and the
Census of Ireland.
Transport
Prior to 1997 there was no scheduled ferry service and people traveled to and from the islands using local fishing boats. Since then a ferry service operates from Roonagh Quay, Louisburgh, County Mayo.
The pier was constructed during the 1980s by the Irish government, around this time the roads on the island were paved.
Gallery
File:Caher and Inishturk - geograph.org.uk - 1400397.jpg|Inisturk and Caher island
File:Inishturk1.jpg|Inishturk pier
File:Inishturk pier1.jpg|Harbour with Caher Island in background
File:Inishturk community centre.jpg|Community centre
File:Inishturk lake2.jpg|Freshwater lake
File:Inishturk clare island.jpg |Clare Island as seen from Inishturk
File:Inishturk powerstation.jpg|Power station
See also
-
Inishdalla
-
Inishbofin, County Galway
-
List of islands of Ireland
External links
