Clare Island

Clare Island is a mountainous island guarding the entrance to Clew Bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It is well-known as the home of the pirate queen Grainne O'Malley. Approximately a hundred forty five humans live there these days. Southwest of Clare Island lie the uninhabited Caher Island and the inhabited Inishturk. Through the Middle Ages, Clare Island became a part of the lands of the O'Malley circle of relatives. The ruins of an O'Malley tower-residence, called Granuaile's Castle because of its most famous resident, are near the pier at the japanese fringe of the island.

Clare Island Abbey near the south coast of the island was based with the aid of the O'Malleys and contains the O'Malley Tomb, a possible burial website online of Gráinne O'Malley. The Abbey is thought for its rare medieval roof art work. In 1588 a deliver from the Spanish Armada turned into wrecked on Clare Island and its men were killed via the O'Malleys. A very prominent landmark of the island is the Clare Island Lighthouse, set up via John Denis Browne, the first Marquess of Sligo, in 1806.