The recent rescue from the sea of around a dozen youngsters attending Irish college at Magheroarty beach in Co Donegal is a reminder of the extremely dangerous seas in that county. Enormous Atlantic rollers strike the coast with incredible force and destructive power.

She was enjoying her job as a management consultant but a change in career has Lesley Emin feeling as high as the tallest peaks in the west, she tells Lorna Siggins.

Welcome to the other Inishbofin, much smaller than its Co Galway namesake.

Inishbofin is one of two islands so named in Ireland (not that there are others elsewhere) — the other is a beautiful scimitar of an island just off Magheroarty Beach in Co Donegal which is minute in comparison.

This Holy Thursday, I’ll climb the hill from the pier and head east across the island of Inishbofin.

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

One of the smallest GAA communities in the country has double reason for celebration after two of their players made their senior inter-county debut on Sunday.

Many of Ireland’s most remote and beautiful tourist spots are to feature on Google Street View for the first time next year.

Vital funding for Ireland’s non-Gaeltacht islands has been secured for the year.

It was surprising to read that the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government plan to end funding from December 31 for five community development offices for the non-gaeltacht islands of Bere, Clare, Whiddy, Sherkin, Dursey, Long, Heir, Inishturk and Inishbofin. 

Communities on nine non-Gaeltacht islands have expressed concern at the news that the Department of the Environment, Community, and Local Government is to terminate funding to their five community development company offices from the end of next month.

THERE is no shame in being lazy in the kitchen.

A man who got into difficulties following a dive off the coast of Co Galway yesterday became the sixth diver to perish off the Irish coast in the past month.

PHOTOGRAPHER John Carlos has always had a strong attachment to Ireland’s Western islands.

A decision to sell off two west coast airstrips has been slammed by a former minister after it emerged the State may only get a fraction of what it cost to build them.

Martin Claffey enjoys a walking break in the stunning surrounds of Connemara.

The westerly wind driving Storm Brigid switched the focus of the destruction witnessed in January, bringing havoc to a new list of coastal communities.

WE all know Christmas is a time for catching up with friends and family, even those spending the festive period abroad.

The cars ended up in the sea

Met Éireann has upgraded a weather warning in effect nationwide from code yellow - the lowest level - to code orange.

Six cars were washed out to sea at Cleggan in west Co Galway in one of the worst storms to hit the west in years.

Wild mink have been fleeing across the sea to islands as mainland traps cut their attacks on endangered birds.

HE has €2 zipped into his pocket, enough for the fanciest ice-cream in the local shop. He takes his bike from against the wall and off he goes.

MY bird feeders are dominated by house sparrows. They arrive in numbers and with a noisy whirring of wings and a determination to oust other birds.

ONE OF the upsides to the downturn is the fact that Irish hotels and holiday homes have got a lot more competitive for families.

European leaders will be firmly focused on Ireland today as it becomes the only country to give people a say on the controversial fiscal treaty.

Ireland goes to the polls tomorrow to vote on the European Fiscal Treaty – the only country to give its electorate a say on the controversial charter.

Two main players in the EU Fiscal Treaty campaign claimed they have scraped a win in the referendum despite being on opposite sides.

An exhibition of rare photographs is offering a glimpse of life on the Blasket Islands and other parts of the west coast in the late 19th century.

Voters living on the five islands off the coast of Donegal will go to the polls today to vote in the presidential election.

MARINE investigators have warned about drinking at sea after an inquiry into the deaths of a well-known footballer and a businessman off Inishbofin.

An elderly woman despondent about the state of the country has returned to the island she lived on for 56 years to cast her vote.

Gardaí say they are not treating as suspicious the deaths of two men in a boating accident off Inishbofin.

A FORMER GAA star and a businessman lost their lives in a drowning tragedy near an offshore island at the weekend.

An investigation is underway following a boating tragedy that claimed the lives of two men off the Co Galway coast this morning.

CONOR COUNIHAN and company aren’t the only Cork team chasing an All-Ireland senior football title this month.

Islanders off the north west coast of Ireland became the first people to vote on the Lisbon Treaty today, with the most remote said to be on the verge of rejecting it.

The key players in the Lisbon treaty referendum were preparing last-minute pleas to voters today, ahead of a 24-hour broadcasting black-out.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen was today bracing himself for a triple election test which opposition parties insisted amounted to nothing less than a referendum on his leadership.

Island-hopping between Ireland’s offshore isles will be exempt from the Government’s controversial new air travel tax, it emerged today.

Inishbofin island is to get air links for its 200 inhabitants, 20 years after it was first proposed, it was revealed today.