Islands of Ireland: Roaringwater Bay and Long Island Bay have dozens of satellite islands — let's check some out

There might be some truth in the poetic phrase 'Carbery's Hundred Isles' after all

Jeremiah's Island is a satellite of Spanish Island in Roaringwater Bay. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

They are usually overlooked, but the satellite islands of a main island can sometimes be just as interesting as the well-known ones. Roaringwater Bay and Long Island Bay in West Cork have several islands known far and wide: the Gaeltacht island of Oileán Chléire; the historic Sherkin Island; the sublime Heir Island... and all have their satellite islands. Even some of the smaller islands such as Skeam West also have their satellite islets. Some have featured here in their own right but others are too small to merit full coverage. With the exception of the O’Driscoll island at Oiléan Chléire no one has ever lived on any of these satellite islands and there is no archaeological evidence of any kind.

Starting with the largest, Oileán Chléire, and working anti-clockwise, we find Oileaneana or Bird Island. Then, just west of the pier there is the long and slender Illaunnagart. Further along is the unnamed island with the ruins of an O’Driscoll castle, Doonanore. And finally, at the South Harbour and well-sheltered from the open seas is Illaunfaha.

Sherkin has the sizeable Illaunbrock at the Gascanane Sound before Oileán Chléire. On the eastern side just beyond the Garrison is the minute Illaunphilip. On the north side facing Turk Head it has a small cluster of islets called Illaunattin, Illaunbeg, and Illaunmore. On the northwest side at the mouth of Kinish Harbour is Hake Island and a little further west is Illlaundermot. And finally, at the famous Silver Strand, is the inhospitable Lamb’s Island.

The next largest island, Heir has a few satellites of its own. Starting at the pier on the eastern side and moving anti-clockwise we find the lovely, low-lying and flower-festooned Illaungowna. Close by is the tidal islet of Illaunkearagh. Further along is the scrap of the magnificently named Illaunnamnaboughta, which even has an entry in a UK sea kayak challenge. Near to this is the almost invisible Leighillaun. Off the south of Heir is Illaunagilla which is split into three parts. Two Women’s Rock and Deadman’s Rock, though not exactly islands, merit mention for their curious names.

Castle Island in West Cork's Roaringwater Bay has 123 acres of land, small shingle beaches, a C14th O'Mahony castle ruin, along with the remains of 15 small stone cabinsir

Horse Island and Castle Island have no satellites but Long Island does not let the side down with the reefs of Garillaun on its western tip. It could be put that Illaunricmonia is a satellite of Goat Island but it may be too far away to make a strong argument for it.

Jeremy Irons' castle on Roaringwater Bay, County Cork. Picture: Denis Scannell 

Calf island East has two satellites in Illaunapisha and Dooneen Island but the other two Calves have none. In between the Calves and Horse Island are Carthy’s Islands, essentially just an exposed reef, but not a satellite. Further in the bay, the Skeams have a few satellites in Illaunatruppaun, Leighillaun, and the rocky Illaunagrogh — though Illaungowna could dispute this. At the start of Roaringwater Bay, Mannin Island (the island owned by Jeremy Irons) has no fewer than five named satellite islands: Mannin Beg; Illaunrahnee; Ardillaun; Illaunbrone and Illaunphadrig.

East Skeam, Roaringwater Bay, West Cork. Picture: Terri Kearney

Spanish Island off Baltimore has two satellites to the north: Aghillaun and Jeremiah’s Island, while the well-known Quarantine Island is equidistant from several points to disallow its satellite status.

So, that is 30 satellite islands in Roaringwater Bay and Long Island Bay which generally go unobserved. And this is not counting the other islands in the bays which are separate from other islands and thus could not be categorised as satellites: Coolim; Goose Island; Sandy Island and others. Perhaps the name of Carbery’s Hundred Isles is merited after all.

Botanist Tony O’Mahony emphasises the importance of Roaringwater Bay’s islands to the country as a whole: “Collectively, both the flora and maritime fauna of this exquisitely panoramic area represent a unique and major biological treasure in the Irish Republic.” By way of illustration he writes that Horse Island has two nationally rare plant species — slender centaury and deptford pink. The satellite islands listed above may possess more rare species that as yet have gone unnoticed.

How to get there: Several departure points. Most popular are Baltimore and Schull from where various trips are available to the islands.

Other: Wildflowers of Cork City and County, Tony O’Mahony, Collins Press; performanceseakayak.co.uk