Islands of Ireland: You can get to this Galway island by foot if you check the route and the tides

Boolard Island gets its name from An Bhuaile Ard which refers to ‘the high sheep pen’ — even though its highest point is only 23 metres

Islands of Ireland: Boolard Island, County Galway looking down Streamstown Bay. On the Sky Road, just west of Clifden. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

The ruin near the summit of this all-but-forgotten County Galway island must once have inspired a deep devotion. With magnificent views down the length of Streamstown Bay — one of the narrowest inlets the country — and a princely position as the only island in the bay it is a truly lovely location.

For here you are truly king or queen of all you survey. The views on a good day are sublime and if not quite to die for, then not far off.