Home
News
About Us
Arranmore
O'Donnells
Myth, Fact
or Legend?
Photo Album
Accommodations
Shopping
Recipes
Links
Contact Us

Árainn Mhór / Arranmore / Aran

Is a small, friendly, picturesque island where the craic never ends, located in the Republic of Ireland, County Donegal, about 3 miles from the mainland or a 20 minute ferry ride departing from the town of Burtonport.

Referred to in a Medieval Irish document Ará Uí Dhomhnaill (O'Donnell's Aran), the island was probably inhabited prior to the Plantation of Ulster (1609). During the middle of the 17th century, the greatest part of West Donegal became the property of the Conygham family who also built Slane Castle and were the ancestors of Lord Henry Mountcharles. During the middle of the 19th century John Stoupe Charley from Finaghey in Co. Antrim bought the island from Lord Conyngham under the terms of the Encumbered Estates Act. Subsequently, work was completed on the Glen House, which was to become their home in 1955. Mrs. Charley and her family continued living on the island after the death of her husband until 1893 when the estate was transferred to the Irish Land Commission under the Lands Acts in 1883.

A few facts...The island is 5.5 miles long and 3 miles wide, with 17 miles of beautiful coastline. The year-round population is approximately 700. St. Crone's Roman Catholic Church is the only church on the island.

There are four schools on the island: Leabgarrow Nation School (70 pupils), Athphort National School (30 pupils), Arranmore Vocational School (30 pupils), and Naonra Árainn Mhóir (12 pupils).

There are four islands between Arranmore Island and the coastal town of Burtonport: Inishcoo, Idirinis, Rutland and Iochtar.

Read about The History Of RNLI STATION ARRANMORE Lighthouse

Read about our favorite Irish Captain, Francis O'Neill

Read about the famine relating to Arranmore

For the latest Arranmore News visit the Árainn Mhór website

Top | Home | News | About Us | Arranmore | O'Donnells | Myth? | Photo Album
Accommodations | Shopping | Recipes | Links | Contact Us | Advertise


Copyright 2001-2008 HowsTheCraic.com. All Rights Reserved.

Please Patronize our sponsor Leabgarrow - On Line Web Services.