Islands of Ireland: Glistening sea and gentle breeze on a trip to Derrinish in Clew Bay

But a vanished population and a lack of oak trees here are tragic

Abandoned houses at Derrinish, Clew Bay, County Mayo. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

The game of assigning shapes to Clew Bay’s myriad islands can be a taxing one. One looks like a fish: easy. Another resembles a sperm whale: easy.

However, others resist comparison though they often have exotic shapes with long tails or elaborate curves. In the middle of the bay lies the hilly Derrinish which has a huge gouge out of its southern side making comparisons a bit trickier.