Islands of Ireland: A ballet of swallows swoops around Banbury's Island

But this is an island of 'no substance' — it's not possible to even set foot on it as it seems to be mostly a submerged reed bank

Island of Ireland: Banbury's Island, Lough Derg, County Tipperary. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

This column has visited some unconventional islands for the series on our islands. There are those some would not consider islands at all... such as Valentia Island, County Kerry, or Omey Island, County Galway. 

In the former case, it is connected to the mainland by a bridge, and the latter can be driven to at low tide.