The Aran Islands, Ireland

 

The Aran Islands is a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay , on the west coast of Ireland. It constitute the barony of Aran in country Galway, Ireland.Another set of off-shore beauties are the Aran Island, a shrine to a bygone Ireland. These three islands, located off the coast of Galway Bay are still populated by mainly Irish speakers and maintains a fairly temperate climate throughout the year. The ancient forts on Inis Mor and Inis Meain are some of the oldest archeological remains in Ireland and you’ll find remnants of an old way of life here that might not apparent on the mainland. This is a trip well worth making.

The Aran Island, along Irelands’s west coast, are a Gaelic treat. They consist of three limestone islands: Inishmore, Inishmaan ans Inisheer. The largest, Inishmore ( nine miles by two miles), is by far the most populated, interesting and visited. The other island, Inishmaan and Inisheer are smaller, much less populated, and less touristy. They also have B&Bs, daily flights and ferry service. For most, the big island is quite enough. The landscape of all three islands is harsh: steep, rugged cliffs and windswept, rocky fields divided by stone walls. During the winter, severe gales sweep the islands, because of this, most of the settlements on Inishmore are found on its more peaceful eastern side. Besides, there’s a stark beauty about these islands and the simple lives its inhabitants eke out of six inches of topsoil and a mean sea. Moreover, precious little of the land is productive. 

Getting to the Aran Islands:

a)    By ferry from Rossaveel and Galway:  Ferries sail to Inishmore from Rosaalveel a port 20 miles west of Galway. The company sells tickets at the Galway TI and runs a 45 minutes shuttle bus from Galway to the Rossaveel dock. Shuttle buses depart Galway one Galway one hour before the sailing and return to Galway immediately after each boat arrives. Island Ferries has two offices in Galway , across from Kinlay House on Merchants Road, and on Forster Street near the Park Hotel. ticket are also sold at the TIs in Galway and Salthill.

b)    By plane: Aer Arnn Islands, a friendly and flexible little airline, flies daily, stopping at all three islands. These flights get booked up, reserve a day or two in advance with a credit card. Their nine-seat planes take off from the Connemara Regional Airport. Allows 45 minutes to get there a minibus shuttle runs from Galway an hour before each flight. 

retrieved from:

http://www.aranislands.ie/

http://www.worldirish.com/story/18269-the-10-best-places-to-visit-in-ireland