Discover-Aimsigh na Seoda
The Lighthouse/Teach an tSolais
The Arranmore Lighthouse is located at Rinrawros Point at the north west corner of the island. It has been in existence since 1859 having replaced the lighthouse built in 1798 which had been de-commissioned in 1832.
Beaver Island Monument
For many generations a bond has existed between Arranmore Island, Co. Donegal and Beaver Island in the USA. Although physically separated by the Atlantic, the two islands are inextricably linked. These links were forged during the years of the Great Hunger when hordes of people fled from all parts of Ireland to escape poverty and starvation and emigrated to the USA. Many of those who emigrated from along the Rosses shores and islands, made their way to the shores of the Great Lakes in the USA where they settled and made new lives for themselves. The colonisation of Beaver Island by those early Irish settlers is evident from the map of Beaver Island with so many place names bearing the surnames of those early settlers.
Famine Memorial
The Famine Memorial is located in the grounds of the Arranmore Holiday Village.
Birds frequently observed on Árainn Mhór
| Blackbird | Fulmar | Puffin |
| Black-backed | Gull | Guillemont |
| Razorbill | Black Hooded Gull | Goldcrest |
| Ringed Plover | Bluetit | Herring Gull |
| Robin | Chaffinch | Hooded Crow |
| Shag | Common Gull | Jackdaw |
| Starling | Curlew | Whimbrill |
Éin Árainn Mhór by Micheál Mac Gloinn
The first field guide to the birds of Árainn Mhór, with short, bilingual descriptions and photos of 104 species and a listing of a further 61 less common visitors.
It can be purchased on the following website for €25 including postage.
St Crone’s Church – Teach Pobail Naomh Cróine
St Crone’s Church is situated at the crossroads bordering the townlands of Illion and Ballintra.
In 1917, an extension was added to the church. Fr. John MacIntyre was curate in Arranmore at the time and he worked tirelessly to have the extension work completed. He paid meticulous attention to the renovation and construction of churches in each of the parishes he was sent to. The parochial house was built in 1908 by Fr. Eddie Doherty.
The church on Arranmore also catered for the inhabitants of Inis Caorach, the last inhabitants left the island in 1955. During the days of the English penal laws, masses were held in secret at the site of mass rocks. There are three such sites on Arranmore; Ard an Aifrinn in Poll an Mhadaidh, Béal an Chaisil in Goirt Gearra and Malaigh na hAltóra in Plochóg.
Weekend Service
Saturday Evening Mass 7:00pm – Sunday Morning Mass 11:00am
Tel: 074 9520504
Tá Teach an Phobail suite ag an chrosbhealach idir bhaile fearainn Uillinne agus Bhaile an tSratha. Tógadh an chéad Teach Pobail ar Árainn Mhór sa bhliain 1825. Cuireadh píosa leis sa bhliain 1917, le linn don Ath Seán Mac an tSaoir a bheith ina shagart cúnta ar an oileán. Fear díograiseach a bhí sa tsagart sin agus d’oibrigh sé go dian, fiú ag tabhairt lámh chuidithe leis an obair thógála. Tógadh Teach an tSagairt sa bhliain 1908, in am an Ath. Eddie Ó Dochartaigh.
Rinne an teach pobail seo freastal ar mhuintir Inis Caorach fosta go dtí gur tréigeadh and t-oileán sin sa bhliain 1955. In aimsir Phéindlíthe na Sasana, ba ghnách an Aifreann a éisteacht faoi cheilt ag cloch Aifrinn i bPoll an Mhadaidh, Beál an Chaisil i mbaile fearainn Na Goirt Ghearra agus an tríú ceann Malaidh na hAltóra, i bPlochóg.
Seirbhísí Deireadh Seachtaine
Tráthnóna Dé Sathairn 7:00in – Maidin Dé Domhnaigh 11.00rn
Fón: 074 9520504
Post Office – Oifig an Phoist
The Arranmore Post Office is situated in the Community Centre, Fál an Ghabhann.
Hours of Business:
Mon, Tue, Wed: 9:00am-2.00pm
Thur, Fri: 9:00am-2.00pm, 2:30-5:30PM
Saturday: CLOSED
ATM Services
An ATM service is available in the Post Office (BOI & AIB) during Post Office opening hours.
Oileán Árainn Mhór – Arranmore Island
Available @€15.00 from An Chultúrlann & Comharchumann Árainn Mhór.
Is féidir an leabhar a chéannacht go háitiúil nó tríd an phost. Is féidir tuilleadh eolais a fháil ach teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an Chomharchumann.
coamteo@gmail.com
074 9520533
Logainmneacha na mBailte Fearainn – The Townlands
The Townlands
Árainn Mhór is divided into thirteen townlands. The names of the townlands originate from the Irish language with the physical characteristics of the area influencing the naming of that area.
An Leadhb Gharbh – Leabgarrow
Leadhb – a piece of land. Gharbh – rough.
Located in Leadhb Gharbh: Ferryboat quay, Leadhb Gharbh Pier, Boat House Beach Bites, No 1 National School (Naomh Colmcille), Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada, The Post Office, The Cove Café & B&B, The Glen Hotel Árainn Mhór Hostel, Phil Bán’s Shop & Bar, Early’s Pier Bar & Lounge, Boyle’s Nite Club & Bar, Ailleacht Cois Farraige.
Poll an Mhadaigh – Pollawaddy
Poll an Mhadaigh
Poll – harbour, an Mhadaigh – of dogs
Many of the first islanders sent to Beaver Island by the Landlord, John Stoupe Charley were from Poll an Mhadaigh. Located in Poll an Mhadaigh:
Arranmore Lifeboat Station, opened in 1997 by Daniel O’Donnell.
Scraig an tSeabhaic – Screig
Scraig – rock, tSeabhaic – of the hawk.
Báigh Bhéal an Chraoise is located off Scraig.
Na Goirt Ghearra – Gortgar
Goirt – fields, Ghearra – short. At the crossroads in Gortgarra there is a hill known as Pinkie Hill. It was so named following the return from Scotland of young local girls wearing pink dresses!
An Cloch Corr – Clochcor
Cloch – stone or boulder, corr – rounded or projecting.
Located in Cloghcor: Comharchumann Árainn Mhór Teo, Coláiste Árainn Mhór.
Fál an Ghabhann – Fallagowan
Fál – hedge or barrier, Ghabhann – smith.
Located in Fál an Ghabhann: The Holiday Village. (Opened in 1997 by Jean Kennedy-Smith), The Courthouse (1855)
Baile an tSratha – Ballintra
Baile – village or townland, tSratha – low-lying land along a river or lake.
Located in Baile an tSratha: Neily’s Shop & Bar, The Day Care Centre.
Baile Ard – Ballard
Baile – village or townland
Ard – high.
Uileann – Illion
Uileann – elbow or corner.
The Church of St Crone’s (built in 1825 and extended in 1917) borders the townlands of Illion and Ballintra.
Plochóg – Plohogue
Plochóg – hallow.
The townland of Plochóg is a 1/4 mile in length.
Located in Plochóg: Malaigh na hAltóra – The Mass Rock. In 1995, Fr. Jimmy Shiels unveiled a plaque at the site to commemorate the Arranmore Disaster of 1935, and the Great Hunger of 1845.
Leadhb Rannagh – Leabrannagh
Leadhb – a piece of land
Reannagh – headland.
Located in An Leadhb Reannagh: No 2 National School (Naomh Cróna), Reannach Park soccer pitch, home to Arranmore United.
Athphort – Aphort
Athphort – out-port. The predominant language spoken in Athphort is Gaeilge.
Na Tuarthaí-Torries
Tuar – dry, or it can also mean a ploughed field into which sheep are put. Granite was quarried in Torries and taken by horse and cart to build the lighthouse.
Logainmneacha na mBailte Fearainn
Tá trí cinn déag de bhailte fearainn ar Árainn Mhór:
An Leadhb Gharbh
Tá sráidbhaile gnóthach anseo agus is ann a thagann an bád farantóireachta i dtír. Tá cuid mhór d’áiseanna an oileáin lonnaithe ar An Leadhb Gharbh – scoil náisiúnta Uimh. 1, Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada, Oifig an Phoist agus Óstán an Ghleanna. Lena chois sin, tá teach lóistín agus bialann Uí Chnáimhsí ann, Brú Óige, siopa grósaera agus tábhairne Phil Uí Bhaoill, teach leanna Uí Luaitheirí agus halla rince/club oíche agus tábhairne Uí Bhaoill.
Poll a’Mhadaidh
Baile fearainn mór é seo a fuair a ainm ó pholl, nó uaimh, a bhí mar ghnáthóg ag dobharchúnna. B’as Poll a’ Mhadaidh cuid mhaith de na chéad daoine a dhíbir an tiarna talaimh, John Stoupe Charley, as an oileán agus a chuaigh go hOileán Béabhair. Ba é an ceoltóir clúiteach, Daniel O’Donnell, a d’oscail Stáisiún úr Bhád Tarrthála Árainn Mhóir i bPoll a’ Mhadaidh sa bhliain 1997.
Screig an tSeabhaic
Tá an baile fearainn cnocach caoránach seo ar thaobh na láimhe clé de chrosbhealach Pholl a’Mhadaidh, síos a fhad le Bá Bhéal a’Chraoise, áit a bhfuil uaigh ghlas inar hadhlacadh triúr anaithnid a fuarthas báite ar an chladach ag deireadh an naoú haois déag.
Na Goirt Ghearra
Tá cnoc ag taobh an chrosbhealaigh sa cheantar seo ar a dtugtar ‘Pinky Hill’ as, siocair gur ghnách le cailíní óga a bhíodh i ndiaidh filleadh as Albain, a theacht le chéile ann. Bhíodh cultacha deasa bándearga orthu uilig, is cosúil!
An Cloch Corr
Tugtar Na Clocha Corra ar an bhaile fearainn seo fosta. Tá cuid mhór clocha eibhir san áit ach tá ceann amháin a bhfuil imir ghorm inti atá neamhchosúil leis na cinn eile. Tá Comharchumann Oileán Árainn Mhór agus Coláiste Árainn Mhór suite ar An Chloch Chorr.
Fál an Ghabhann
Bhí gabhann d’ainmhithe anseo agus duine ar bith nach raibh ábalta a gcíos a íoc leis an tiarna talaimh, chuirtí a gcuid ainmhithe isteach sa ghabhann go dtí go mbeadh ar a gcumas íoc ar a son. Bhí Teach na Cúirte, a tógadh sa bhliain 1855, anseo chomh maith agus bhaintí úsáid as mar phríosún. Tá sráidbhaile saoire suite anseo anois agus ba í Jean Kennedy Smith a rinne an oscailt oifigiúil air sa bhliain 1997.
Baile an tSrátha
Is i mBaile an tSrátha atá an tIonad Lae suite. Tá siopa grósaera agus teach tábhairne Néilidh suite sa bhaile íseal seo chomh maith.
An Baile Ard
Tá eas bheag dheas sa cheantar seo (An Ailt) ach ní féidir fáil a fhad léi le fada an lá.
An Uileann
Tá An Uileann Íochtarach agus An Uileann Uachtarach ann.
Plochóg
Sa bhaile fearainn seo, atá ceathrú míle ar fhad, is ar iascaireacht agus ar fheirmeoireacht is mó a mhaireann na daoine. Suite sa bhaile seo tá Teach Óstán Árainn Mhóir. Tá cloch Aifrinn, ar a dtugtar Malaidh na hAltóra, san áit agus sa bhliain 1995, chuir an tAth Jimí Ó Siail suas cloch chuimhneacháin ag taobh na haltóra don mhuintir a bádh in 1935 agus i gcuimhne an Ghorta Mhóir, 1845.
Leadhb Rannach
Tógadh an dara bunscoil atá ar an oileán i Leadhb Reannach sa bhliain 1915. Anseo fosta, tá áis tuirlingthe an héileacaptair agus páirc sacair an oileáin – páirc bhaile Arranmore United.
Athphort
Tá muintir Athphoirt iontach dílis don Ghaeilge i gcónaí.
Na Tuarthaí
Baintear úsáid as an fhocal ‘tuar’ go leitheadach in Árainn Mhór – ag tagairt d’ éadach a bheadh amuigh ar triomú nó ar tuar. D’fhéadfadh sé fosta gur páirceanna caorach atá i gceist san ainm. Ba sna Tuarthaí a baineadh an t-eibhear lenar tógadh Teach an tSolais. I ndiaidh á mbainte, tugadh na clocha ansin a fhad le suíomh theach an tsolais le capall agus carr
Places of Interest
The Glen Hotel
The Glen House was the home of the former landlord John Stoupe Charley. It became the island’s first hotel in 1928 and among its first guests were the Aran Islands writer Liam O’Flaherty and his wife who visited the island whilst on honeymoon.
Former Mill (18th century) at the top of the ferry pier at Leadhb Gharbh.
Former Courthouse Built at Fál an Ghabhann circa 1855.
The Old Graveyard at Trá an Chaisil in the south of the island was given to the islanders in 1725 to bury their dead following the tragic drowning of nine people on their way to a funeral on the mainland. A new graveyard replaced it in 1893.
Mass Rock. Plochóg
Árainn Mhór & Beaver Island Memorial, Loch an Chamhánaigh. Several hundred emigrants from Árainn Mhór settled on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, USA, after the famine in 1851 , and both communities still exchange visits. Árainn Mhór is now twinned with Beaver Island. The memorial was built in 2000.
Loch an Chamhánaigh – Cowan’s Lake was named after a land steward who had a house there. The lake serves as the island’s reservoir and it is one of the few lakes in Europe where rainbow trout breed naturally. The trout were introduced from Canada in the early 1900s.
Cnoc an lolair – hill of the eagle (750ft) is the island’s highest point. White-tailed Sea Eagles bred here in the past.
Cliffs up to 120 metres high all along the west and north coasts of the island.
Na Tri Mic Ó gCorra-The Three Stags. Three sea-stacks situated to the north between Toraigh and Árainn Mhór. In mythology they are said to be a pagan sister and two brothers who were turned to stone by St Colmcille as they leapt into the sea at Toraigh in an attempt to swim to Árainn Mhór or the mainland.
