Islands of Ireland: What constitutes an island?

The subject of what constitutes an island cropped on this page a few week’s ago in reference to the minute Flea Island in West Cork.

By Dan MacCarthy

A reader, Paul Hassett, has inquired if size is the only determining factor. Goat Island near Ardmore, Co Waterford, is tiny but is known locally as an island, rather than an isle, and that is as good a qualification as any.