The Normans landed there using boats supplied by the O’Flaherty and killed many men of the O’Connor’s clan come ashore. Some years later, a violent episode happened on this island.
The fleet, made up of 56 ships, was the greatest ever seen in the West. According the Annals of the Four Masters, in 1239 a galley fleet, captained by O’Dowdy of Connaught, gathered here. Inisheany (the meeting place), on the sea route to Westport, was a gathering point for trade between ships and graziers from the Clew Bay area. Their Irish names could be curious: Roeillaun (red earthen cliff), Inisherky, Inishcooa, Inishitra, Inishdooney, Inishkee, Muckinish, Inishoo, Inishgowla (island of the fork), Carraigeen-na-Francach (the rock of the Frenchman), Collanmore Island, Inishlyre, Inishgort, Inisheany (the meeting place), Clynish. They were perfect traps into which to drive passing vessels or perfect places to hide and to intercept enemy ships. In the 16th century these islands were extremely important for Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen, and her sea kingdom. It is thought the islands, which look like apples floating in the water, could have given rise to this connection. This name could come from the translation of the Irish word for apples, ubhall or ull. They come up in all shapes: ovals, lozenges, snakes, dragons, arrowheads or long-legged beasties.Ĭlare Island, the biggest island, guards the entrance of the bay only six islands are inhabited all year round.Īccording to legend, the ancient name for West Mayo ‘Umhall’ is related to these islands.
The number includes also bits of saltings 117 of them are Ireland's best example of drumlins of limestone, scoured by ice sheet. Clew Bay, the most spectacular bay in Ireland overlooked by Croagh Patrick, is scattered with 365 islands, one for every day of the year.
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