Islands of Ireland: A deserted Irish island with beaches to die for

After clocking up more than 500 visits to Irish islands, Dan MacCarthy reckons he's found one of the most attractive islands in the country

Finish Island, also known as Feenish Island or Oileán Finis, has dazzling white sand, turquoise sea and a mountainous backdrop

Resisting all puns and pushing on to the end, this island could be the start of your island-hopping adventure. A deserted island with a tangible feel of the past and with beaches to die for, there are few more attractive islands in the country. A bold statement, but there is something irresistible about Feenish that draws back people who have visited it again and again. It is possible to walk to the island at very low tide following in the sandprints of the islanders who made this journey for generations. The 154 acres of Finish (Feenish, or Oileán Finis) is connected by a tombolo — a low ridge of shingle and sand.

It is to be found in southern Connemara, not far from the village of Carna. An aerial view on Google Maps shows deserted houses lying all along the old boreen which runs the length of the island, north to south. There are now a couple of holiday houses and occasionally a currach can be seen gliding past the island but apart from that, this is an island marooned in its past.