Islands of Ireland: Illauneeragh, County Kerry is a mix of pristine and polluted

Skeletons of starfish, mussel and crabs shells decorate the beach which is also scattered with bits of coloured rope and buoys

Islands of Ireland: Illauneeragh. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

Ardgroom Harbour is one of two huge harbours side by side on the northern side of the Beara Peninsula. The two are quite different in character: Where Kilmakilloge Harbour is densely wooded with stately Scots pine, Ardgroom Harbour has a wilder feel to it, and though wooded in places, it has plenty of barren rock to mark it as different. One of its main identifying features are the extensive mussel beds which occupy a large part of the central harbour.

It has nine islands though, in truth, seven is surely more accurate. The Osi map describes Yellow Island and Black Island as islands but they are mere navigational aids with painted concrete beacons to assist seafarers.