Inishbiggle
Encyclopedia
Inishbiggle is a small inhabited island
off the coast of County Mayo
in Ireland
. Its name in Irish means "Island of Fasting." 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. Access is also afforded by a fully illuminated helipad
, this is in place to afford emergency access. The island is 2½ km x 1½ km, or 650 acres (2.6 km²) in area.
The island's population currently stands at around 22 people, whose 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 estimated 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
.
The population is now down to a few dozen, almost all elderly.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
off the coast of County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Its name in Irish means "Island of Fasting." The island is situated between the northeast of Achill Island
Achill Island
Achill Island in County Mayo is the largest island off the coast of Ireland, and is situated off the west coast. It has a population of 2,700. Its area is . Achill is attached to the mainland by Michael Davitt Bridge, between the villages of Gob an Choire and Poll Raithní . A bridge was first...
and the mainland, and is accessed by boat from either Doran's point at Ballycroy
Ballycroy National Park
Ballycroy National Park is located in the Owenduff/Nephin Mountains area of the Barony of Erris in northwest County Mayo, Ireland. It is one of the largest expanses of peatland in Europe, consisting of 117.79 square kilometres of Atlantic blanket bog. It is a unique habitat with a diverse flora and...
or Bullsmouth, Dooniver
Dooniver
Dún Ibhir , meaning "Ibhir's stronghold", or "Ibhir's fort" is a Gaeltacht village on Achill Island in County Mayo, Ireland.-Geography:...
on Achill. Access is also afforded by a fully illuminated helipad
Helipad
Helipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
, this is in place to afford emergency access. The island is 2½ km x 1½ km, or 650 acres (2.6 km²) in area.
The island's population currently stands at around 22 people, whose main activities are sheep and cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
farming, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and winkle picking. Facilities on the island included a school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
and a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, both now closed. Plans to build a cable-car
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
link across the very dangerous Bullsmouth Channel,one of the strongest currents in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
separating the island from Achill had been under discussion since 1996, but have now been abandoned due to the high estimated cost and the money was given towards the Achill bridge redevelopment. Unpredictable currents
Ocean current
An ocean current is a continuous, directed movement of ocean water generated by the forces acting upon this mean flow, such as breaking waves, wind, Coriolis effect, cabbeling, temperature and salinity differences and tides caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun...
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
Currach
A Currach is a type of Irish boat with a wooden frame, over which animal skins or hides were once stretched, though now canvas is more usual. It is sometimes anglicised as "Curragh". The construction and design of the currach is unique to the west coasts of Ireland and Scotland, with variations in...
.
The population is now down to a few dozen, almost all elderly.