Aerial shot of Dun Aonghasa by the Heritage Service.
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The Aran Islands stretch across the mouth of Galway Bay, guarding it from the wide Atlantic Ocean beyond. There are three Islands, Inis Mór, the Great Island, Inis Mean, the Middle Island and Inis Oir the Small Island. The islands are composed of limestone and seem closely related to the nearby mountains of the Burren in Co Clare. Irish is still the main language on the islands, though so many tourists go out each summer. The most famous attraction is Dun Aonghasa (above), the great stone fort perched on the cliffs near the highest point on the west side of the island. There are in fact several forts on the islands, all built from limestone. The Islands were an important site in the Early Christian times, when St Enda established a monastery out on Inis Mor. Many of the great and notible saints trained out there for a time, so much so that it became known as Aran of the Saints. There are several good remains of early churches and cross slabs on Inis Mór. There are also strong local traditions which survived until recently out there. |
