Islands of Ireland: Watching island like a hawk

Hawk Island in Lough Gill, Co Sligo, is thought to have inspired several of WB Yeats’ poems in addition to ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree'

Garavogue River, which links Sligo town to Lough Gill. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

We return to the glimmering Lough Gill, Co Sligo, this week as suggested in the headline with due nod to poetic licence. Famous for harbouring WB Yeats’ Innisfree and also possessing the sylvan Cottage Island where the eccentric Beezie Gallagher lived alone, the lough is a magical place. The Strawberry tree (Arbutus uneda), with white bundles of blossoms at year-end, can be found on the lake margins. It is rare to this area but common at Killarney, Co Kerry, where there is even an Arbutus Island on Lough Leane. On the north side of Lough Gill is the 17th century Parke’s Castle, along with several more islands.

Dan McCarthy: 'It is nice to contemplate an island given over as a hawk sanctuary.'