Islands of Ireland: Inishbofin — Galway’s pearl

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.

The juxtaposition of Oliver Cromwell and Tommy Tiernan can only boggle the overwhelmed mind. On visiting the superbly attractive Inishbofin in Co. Galway the brain can’t help but conjure these two polar opposites of humanity, writes Dan MacCarthy.

One a puritan cut-throat, the other a zany comedian. Whatever else he was, Cromwell was no zany comedian.