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Ireland-The small islands of the Green Island

76 images Created 17 Apr 2009

Nothing says 'escape' like a break on a small Irish island, each with a strong personality different from the others.
Some days you feel like you can touch with one hand, remote and unattainable the next day. Yet almost always, a handful of men, monks, fishermen, or pirates, tried to live there and often succeeded. Thus over the centuries, these communities, often forced to rely only on their own strength, have built a strong and unique identity, each with its own history, where an Ireland still lives elsewhere hopelessly disappeared. Three of them are fascinating handkerchiefs of land in a large bay between Mayo and Galway counties where they can find a quiet Irish life on the sea, capable of striking at the heart and revealing different but fascinating stories. Clare Island, where weather may change from deep fog to nearly tropical light, was also the chieftain Granuaille O'Malley's small kingdom (1530-1600 a.D.), Grainne Nì Mhàille in Gaelic, one of the most celebrated pirate women of history. She was a reputed chieftain of a fleet that controlled Atlantic routes off the island. Continuously en route with the British, one fine day, he climbed up the Thames aboard a prison and appeared at Elizabeth's court, claiming to treat "among queens" on an equal footing to direct their disputes. Achill Island, the biggest of the small Irish islands, has some beautiful cliffs and beaches with Mediterranean lights. The microscopic Inishbofin off the coast of Connemara with its quiet bays and a dark castle built by Cromwell as a prison for the Irish irreducible. Just north, Tory island, Ireland's most remote island off Donegal, is the Gaelic world's icon island. Here lives the last "King of Ireland" heir to the traditional Gaelic chieftains, in a handkerchief of land, often isolated from storms, where a hundred people live, and you arrive only with small boats through a perpetually stormy arm of the sea. Here Gaelic is still spoken, and Tory has always been a topos of Irish music and folklore.

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  • Fishing boat wreck. The Clare Sound, is a narrow but dangerous strait between Clare Island and the mainland.
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  • Clare Island, the small harbour with low tide. The island weather may change from deep fog to nearly tropical light..
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  • Clare Island, the small harbour with low tide. The island weather may change from deep fog to nearly tropical light..
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  • Clare Island old lighthouse. It was so high on the cliff that too many times was in a deep fog and not visible from the sea.
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  • Clare Island old lighthouse. It was so high on the cliff that too many times was in a deep fog and not visible from the sea.
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  • Clare Island. The island weather may change from deep fog to nearly tropical light.
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  • Clare Island. The island weather may change from deep fog to nearly tropical light.
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  • Clare Island. The island weather may change from deep fog to nearly tropical light.
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  • Clare Island, the small harbour with low tide. The island weather may change from deep fog to nearly tropical light. in the back the family castle of O'Malley clan. The chieftain Granuaille O'Malley (1530-1600 a.D.), or Grainne Nì Mhàille, was one of the most celebrated pirate women of his time.
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  • Clare Island, the family castle of O'Malley clan. The chieftain Granuaille O'Malley (1530-1600 a.D.), or Grainne Nì Mhàille, was one of the most celebrated pirate women of his time.
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  • Traditional boats (curraghs) near the harbour.
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  • Clare Island. The island weather may change from deep fog to nearly tropical light.
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  • Clare Island. The island weather may change from deep fog to nearly tropical light. The "Wall", the old stone wall dividing private owned from collective lands.
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  • Beth Moran, a waiwer originary from Usa that decided to live in Clare island.
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  • The old Clare Island Cistercian Abbey (XII The old Cistercian Abbey (XIII cent.). Old painting of the chapel with precious Norsemen motifs of dragons.
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  • Clare Island Abbey. The family tomb of O'Malley clan when is supposed to have been buried the famous chieftain and pirate leader Granuaile O’Malley.
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  • The old Clare Island Cistercian Abbey (XII The old Cistercian Abbey (XIII cent.).
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  • The small western village, the most important of the 2 hamlets of the island, where the populartion is not more than 120 people. After 1981.1982 heawy storms that isolated the island for many weeks the Irish governement offered houses to the mainland but only half of the population accepted. Now Tory is still a center of Gaelic culture.
    em7210400.jpg
  • The small western village, the most important of the 2 hamlets of the island, where the populartion is not more than 120 people. After 1981.1982 heawy storms that isolated the island for many weeks the Irish governement offered houses to the mainland but only half of the population accepted. Still today Tory is still a center of Gaelic culture.
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  • Sean Doherty, a old lighthouse keeper, every 6 weeks came from the mainland to check the automatic lighthouse, one of the most important along Irish Atlantic coast. Tory sound, a narrow strait between the island and Donegal coast, is one of the most dangerous seas around all Ireland. After 1981.1982 heawy storms that isolated the island for many weeks the Irish governement offered houses to the mainland but only half of the population accepted. Now Tory is still a center of Gaelic culture.
    em7210403.jpg
  • Tory island lighthouse is one of the most important along Irish Atlantic coast. Tory sound, a narrow strait between the island and Donegal coast, is one of the most dangerous seas around all Ireland. After 1981.1982 heawy storms that isolated the island for many weeks the Irish governement offered houses to the mainland but only half of the population accepted. Now Tory is still a center of Gaelic culture.
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  • Tory Island harbour. The Tau Cross, one of the two survived in all Ireland, is what remains of the monastery founded by St Columba.
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  • Patsy Dan Rodgers (“Patsaí Dan Mac Ruairí”) is the "Rí Thoraí", the King of Tory. Tory is the last of the small and many times isolated Irish island where survives this sort of "chieftain" that local people choose to resolve local problems without "official" authorities. Patsy is also one of the most important painters of the famous "Tory's naive school".
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  • The island pub. Patsy Dan Rodgers (“Patsaí Dan Mac Ruairí”) is the "Rí Thoraí", the King of Tory. Tory is the last of the small and many times isolated Irish island where survives this sort of "chieftain" that local people choose to resolve local problems without "official" authorities. Patsy is also one of the most important painters of the famous "Tory's naive school".
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  • Sunday afternon in the Tory's island pub.
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  • Paul Rodgers with the portrait of his father, one of the most popular "Kings of Tory". Tory is the last of the small and isolated Irish island where survives this Celtic heritaget of "chieftain" choosen by local people to resolve local problems.
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  • Paul Rodgers, here with his wife, is one of the most famous musicians of the island. Tory is famous for his Gaelic musical tradition.
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  • Paul Rodgers is one of the most famous musicians of the island. Tory is famous for his Gaelic musical tradition.
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  • The high Western cliffs of Tory Island are the first European land between Canada and Ireland.
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  • The cliffs of Tory Island are the first European land between Canada and Ireland.
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  • Antoin Meean, one of the best naifs painters of Tory Island.
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  • The small western village, the most important of the 2 hamlets of the island, where the populartion is not more than 120 people. After 1981.1982 heawy storms that isolated the island for many weeks the Irish governement offered houses to the mainland but only half of the population accepted. Now Tory is still a center of Gaelic culture.
    em7210442.jpg
  • The small western village, the most important of the 2 hamlets of the island, where the populartion is not more than 120 people. After 1981.1982 heawy storms that isolated the island for many weeks the Irish governement offered houses to the mainland but only half of the population accepted. Now Tory is still a center of Gaelic culture.
    em7210443.jpg
  • The small western village, the most important of the 2 hamlets of the island, where the populartion is not more than 120 people. After 1981.1982 heawy storms that isolated the island for many weeks the Irish governement offered houses to the mainland but only half of the population accepted. Now Tory is still a center of Gaelic culture.
    em7210444.jpg
  • The small western village, the most important of the 2 hamlets of the island, where the populartion is not more than 120 people. After 1981.1982 heawy storms that isolated the island for many weeks the Irish governement offered houses to the mainland but only half of the population accepted. Now Tory is still a center of Gaelic culture.
    em7210448.jpg
  • Patsy Dan Rodgers (“Patsaí Dan Mac Ruairí”) is the "Rí Thoraí", the King of Tory. Tory is the last of the small and many times isolated Irish island where survives this sort of "chieftain" that local people choose to resolve local problems without "official" authorities. Patsy is also one of the most important painters of the famous "Tory's naive school".
    em7210452.jpg
  • The small western village, the most important of the 2 hamlets of the island, where the populartion is not more than 120 people. After 1981.1982 heawy storms that isolated the island for many weeks the Irish governement offered houses to the mainland but only half of the population accepted. Now Tory is still a center of Gaelic culture.
    em7210455.jpg
  • The graveyard of the small western village, the most important of the 2 hamlets of the island, where the populartion is not more than 120 people. After 1981.1982 heawy storms that isolated the island for many weeks the Irish governement offered houses to the mainland but only half of the population accepted. Now Tory is still a center of Gaelic culture.
    em7210459.jpg
  • The small western village, the most important of the 2 hamlets of the island, where the populartion is not more than 120 people. After 1981.1982 heawy storms that isolated the island for many weeks the Irish governement offered houses to the mainland but only half of the population accepted. Now Tory is still a center of Gaelic culture.
    em7210464.jpg
  • Magheroarty. From this small fishermen harbour of the Bloody Foreland coast (Donegal) sails the ferry to Tory Island.
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  • Achill island, the biggest of the small Irish islands. Dooniver village and beach on the Eastern coast.
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  • Achill island, the biggest of the small Irish islands. Dooniver village and beach on the Eastern coast.
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  • Achill island, the biggest of the small Irish islands. Dooniver village and beach on the Eastern coast.
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  • Atlantic Drive. Keem Strand, a beautiful small beach with Mediterraneran lights.
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  • Atlantic Drive. Keem Strand, a beautiful small beach with Mediterraneran lights.
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  • Achill island. Atlantic Drive. Keel beach, 3 km long, in the back the Cathedral Rocks cliffs.
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  • Achill island. Atlantic Drive. Keel beach, 3 km long.
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  • Atlantic Drive. Dooagh village.
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  • Atlantic Drive, Achill Sound. Kildavnet cemetery.
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  • The “Deserted Village”, a small ghost town from the Famine times.
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  • Achill island, the biggest of the small Irish islands.
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  • Tory island lighthouse is one of the most important along Irish Atlantic coast. Tory sound, a narrow strait between the island and Donegal coast, is one of the most dangerous seas around all Ireland. After 1981.1982 heawy storms that isolated the island for many weeks the Irish governement offered houses to the mainland but only half of the population accepted. Now Tory is still a center of Gaelic culture.
    em7210504.jpg
  • Patsy Dan Rodgers (“Patsaí Dan Mac Ruairí”) is the "Rí Thoraí", the King of Tory. Tory is the last of the small and many times isolated Irish island where survives this sort of "chieftain" that local people choose to resolve local problems without "official" authorities. Patsy is also one of the most important painters of the famous "Tory's naive school".
    em7210505.jpg
  • The high Western cliffs of Tory Island are the first European land between Canada and Ireland.
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  • Achill island, the biggest of the small Irish islands.
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  • le alte scogliere di Tory sono il primo ostacolo che trova l’oceano Atlantico tra Canada e  Irlanda.
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  • Achill Island. Atlantic Drive. Dooagh village.
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  • Achill island. Atlantic Drive. Keel beach, 3 km long, in the back the Cathedral Rocks cliffs.
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  • Achill island, the biggest of the small Irish islands. Dooniver village and beach on the Eastern coast.
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  • Achill island, the biggest of the small Irish islands. Atlantic Drive Western coast.
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  • Achill island, the biggest of the small Irish islands. Atlantic Drive Western coast.
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  • Achill Sound pub. Achill island is the biggest of the small Irish islands.
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  • Cleggan fishing harbour. The small ferry for Inishbofin island.
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  • Cleggan fishing boat. The small ferry for Inishbofin island.
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  • The small ferry for Inishbofin island.
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  • The small ferry for Inishbofin island.
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  • Inishbofin, Cromwell's Baarraks.  Inishbofin is a small island off the coast of Connemara, with around 180 inhabitants. It was one of the last Royalist strongholds to fall to Cromwell's army that turned Inishbofin into a prison for Catholic priests arrested elsewhere in Ireland.and to protect the harbour against pirates
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  • Inishbofin, Cromwell's Baarraks.  Inishbofin is a small island off the coast of Connemara, with around 180 inhabitants. It was one of the last Royalist strongholds to fall to Cromwell's army that turned Inishbofin into a prison for Catholic priests arrested elsewhere in Ireland.and to protect the harbour against pirates
    em7217140.jpg
  • Inishbofin is a small island off the coast of Connemara, with around 180 inhabitants.
    em7217141.jpg
  • Inishbofin is a small island off the coast of Connemara, with around 180 inhabitants.
    em7217145.jpg
  • Inishbofin is a small island off the coast of Connemara, with around 180 inhabitants.
    em7217147.jpg
  • Inishbofin is a small island off the coast of Connemara, with around 180 inhabitants.
    em7217149.jpg
  • Cleggan fishing boat.
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  • Cleggan fishing boat.
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  • Cleggan fishing boat. Live music at Oliver's seafood bar.
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