It is hard to believe today but the former island of Ringarogy in West Cork was once home to around 800 people.

A return visit is often much more informative than an initial foray. And Clare Island in Co Mayo is a place that demands repeated visits.

Mulranny, in the shadow of the Nephin Beg Mountains on the north shore of Clew Bay, is a hill-walker’s paradise.

As an introduction to our islands, this heritage week programme has a selection of lovely islands and a wide range of activities to entice you.

The threat of bacterial epidemics is something that threatens all countries, island or not.

New research published by Inland Fisheries Ireland has revealed that angel shark stocks have declined in Irish waters.

Serious shortcomings in the quality and safety of a community home for people with disabilities have been found by the State’s health services watchdog.

Serious shortcomings in the quality and safety of a community home for people with disabilities have been found by State's health services watchdog.

The difficulties in building a castle on the mainland are considerable.

THE obliteration of the Hawaiian East Island in Hurricane Walaka in the last few weeks serves as a timely reminder to the vulnerability of many low-lying islands, writes Dan MacCarthy.

Kya deLongchamps suggests some stealth history lessons on those family holidays and days out.

Looking for a staycation with a difference? From new menus to room revamps, Ciara McDonnell uncovers the hotels offering that little bit extra in 2018.

Dwarfed by its magnificent neighbour, Achillbeg lies to the south east of the dominant landmass with which it shares a name. It forms the pinnacle of an inverted triangle and was once connected to Achill itself. Now, a narrow sound separates the two Achills through which a powerful current flows.

Just south of Clew Bay and sandwiched between Clare Island and Inishbofin is the roughly equally-sized island of Inishturk.

The discovery of a bearded seal at Timoleague recently, prompts renewed interest in early records, writes Richard Collins

Dan MacCarthy discusses dragons and knights found on Clare Island, Co Mayo

Talk about putting the WOW! into the WAW, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.

Ireland’s Alcatraz-style visitor attraction unveils its €5m revamp this weekend as the country gets set to bask in bank holiday sunshine.

Kevin Barry has accepted he will never write the great American Jewish novel but he still spends nights fretting about what John Lennon’s widow Yoko On might think of Beatlebone. He explains all to Caroline O’Doherty.

John Lennon and Yoko had a love for Ireland, buying an island off Co Mayo. His visits to the area caused a mighty stir as chef, Johnny Carroll tells Jonathan deBurca Butler

Your guide to tonight's television.

The Ombudsman has ordered the State to release a detailed report into a salmon farm accident which resulted in one of the largest ever losses of farmed salmon.

An environmental group is going all the way to the High Court in a bid to secure the release of a Government report into a massive escape of farmed salmon.

If your sat nav is a bit out of date or Google maps ain’t your thing, a cool €2m to €3.2m could net you the oldest known standalone map of Ireland.

Caroline Delaney says coastal Westport is perfect for activities such as cycling, kayaking and hiking, and resting too, just before winter sets in.

The Department of Agriculture has refused, under appeal, to publish a report it commissioned into how 230,000 farmed salmon escaped from cages in Bantry Bay during winter storms.

FIRST the train left the station, then the station left the town — so what’s now coming down the tracks for this Baltimore, West Cork, coastal property?

BY THE time we had got three-quarters of the way to Westport, our phone sat navs were locked in battle.

Science versus faith: a Euro conundrum

AFTER a recent gig in Japan Harry Styles of boy band One Direction is reported to have said that the band “could be as big as The Beatles”.

Tóchar — Walking Ireland’s Ancient Pilgrim Paths

WHEN you’re sitting on a bench overlooking Clew Bay, under the bluest sky and over the bluest water you’ve ever seen, it’s hard to imagine that there’s anything in the world that needs reform.

A West of Ireland luxury island retreat developed a cost of over €9m by Nadim Sadek — who appeared on the Secret Millionaire programme last year — has been sold by a receiver for over €2.85m.

A global anti-fish farming activist on a tour of the west coast has called for details of chemical anti-parasite treatments used in Irish waters to be made available.

Seán McCárthaigh experiences some of the diverse attractions on offer in Westport.

This summer sees a selection of coastal buys and builds of the country’s boom period up for sale, at a fraction of peak values.