Clare Island

Clare Island lies at the entrance of Clew Bay and is the largest of Mayo’s offshore islands. The island’s spectacular cliffs support large colonies of seabirds, in particular fulmar, kittiwake, guillemot and razorbill.

The Clare Island cliffs are also of interest to botanists as they support several rare plant species that are listed on the Red Data Book: Holly Fern, Moss Campion, Sea Pea, Alpine Saw-wort, Heath Cudweed, and Purple Saxifrage. Other members of this plant community include Red Fescue, thrift, harebell, and a variety of alpine vegetation on the higher slopes such as Mountain Sorrel and Dwarf Willow.

Closer to the centre of the island is a diverse landscape of bogs, hills and small pockets of woodland. A 14th century abbey is located on the island and is well known for its rare medieval wall-paintings. However, Clare Island is probably better known as the believed burial place of the legendary Pirate Queen of Mayo, Gráinne Mhaol.


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