Inishbee had 10 residents in 1911 — now it is uninhabited except for sheep and birds

The island's name could come from an anglicisation of 'yellow island' or 'food island'

Islands of Ireland: Inishbee Island, Clew Bay, County Mayo

There is no sign of a bee-loud glade on this island, and in fact scarcely a bee makes its way out to this distant Clew Bay island such is the dearth of flowers brought about by extensive sheep grazing. On a recent trip the only flowers in evidence were speedwell and buttercup. The name that inspires Yeatsian thoughts (“And live alone in the bee-loud glade” from the immortal ‘Lake Isle of Inishfree’) is an anglicisation of Inish buidhe or ‘Yellow Island’.

There was another interpretation of the name however, as Inis Bidh (Food Island). What the ‘food’ reference could be is anyone’s guess. An abundance of fish perhaps? Inishbee has had many variations of its name over the centuries including: Inishpee; Enishpea; Inishbue and Inishbegh. The Inishbee name has been around since the early 17th century.