E-mail: arantaobhline@gmail.com
Community Profile:
Inis Meain, Aran Islands, Co. Galway
Completed as part of UCC - Certificate in Community Development - March 2010
1 Introduction:
Inis Meain is one of the three Aran Islands that lie 15 miles off the west coast of Ireland. The name Inis Meain translates directly to the ‘middle island’ in English. The translation, accurately describes the geographic location of the island, as it sits in between the largest of the Aran Islands; Inis Mor to the west and the smallest island Inis Oirr to the south east. The island measures 5km long by 3km wide and covers 2,252 acres in total. It is the least populated of the three Aran Islands and is home to a population of 154 people based on the 2006 Census, although this figure can increase significantly during the summer months. Inis Meain is a Gaeltacht island, where Irish is the primary language of the inhabitants. The principal town lands on the island include ‘Ceathru an Teampaill’, ‘Ceathru an Lisin’, ‘Baile an Duna’, ‘Baile an Teampaill’, ‘Baile an Lisin’, ‘Moinin na Ruaige’ and ‘Baile an Mhothair’.
Figure 1: Map of Inis Meain (OSI)
2 Demographics:
Although no definite records exist, artefacts found on each of the islands suggest that these remote outposts off the Galway coast have been inhabited since as far back as 3000 BC. The census records that do exist however suggest that with the exception of a few periods in recent history, the population is steadily declining.
Figure 2 provides an outline of the population for the last 170 years. From a population of 473 in 1841, the population at the last census was a mere 154.
Figure 2: Census of Population figures (CSO)
From the results in table 1 and figure 2, it is clear that the sharpest declines in Inis Meain’s population took place between 1971 and 1979 where a 25.71% decline was recorded and between 2002 and 2006 where a 17.65% decline was recorded. When analysed further, what is also evident is that the declines are in stark contrast to the national figures, where 13.09% and 8.24% increases were experienced in the respective periods.
Table 1: Census of population figures and % increase/decrease (CSO)
Males have also been the predominant sex on the island in the recent history. In 1961 there were 180 male inhabitants and 162 females, the figure as per the 2006 census are 83 and 71 respectively. While greater disparities have existed over the years, the male/female ratio on the island remains pretty much constant at 1.1 males for every female. Figure 3 provides a further graphic breakdown of the figures.
Figure 3: Inis Meain population breakdown by sex (CSO)
3 Economy and Employment:
The small population of Inis Meain find employment from a diverse range of sources. Table 2 below provides a listing of each of the industries that contributes to the island’s economy.
Table 2: Employment sources on Inis Meain
4 Provision of Services:
Inis Meain is serviced with a fully functioning post office, while additional banking facilities are provided by Bank of Ireland on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. A single shop operates on the island, ‘Siopa Ruari bheag’.
Figure 4: Inis Meain Post Office
The majority of the island population are Roman Catholics, though there is no resident priest on the island since 1990. The weekly mass is facilitated each week with help from priests from Inis Mor and Inis Oirr, as well as clergy that happen to be visiting the island.
Figure 5: Eaglais Naomh Muire gan Smal
Education is satisfactorily catered for on the island. Pre-school, primary as well as post primary education is currently provided on the island. This is a significant advance in comparison to previous generations who had to move to the mainland to receive post-primary education.
Fresh drinking water is provided via a desalination plant that was instigated by Comharchumann Inis Meain. Plans are in place to provide an improved drinking water facility in future years. Sewage is dealt with using domestic septic tanks.
The Comharchumann in conjunction with the ESB also provide electricity on the island with the primary source being wind turbines.
Figure 6: Inis Meain wind turbines
A full time on call HSE nurse is permanently available and a doctor visits the island three times each week.
A telephone exchange that provides a radio link to the mainland has been functional on the island since 1989.
A twice daily ferry service from Ros a’ mhil in county Galway is provided to the island. A twice daily air service is also provided by ‘Aer Arann Islands’ from Connemara airport in Indreabhan.
Figure 7: Aer Arann Islands Service
5 Community buildings and facilities:
Church: The immaculately maintained Eaglais Naomh Muire gan Smal was built in 1939 and caters for the island congregation as well as visitors to the island (see figure 5).
Community Hall: Halla Eoin was built in 1962 and caters for various functions like meetings, plays, concerts and dances.
Primary school: Scoil Naisiunta Inis Meain provides primary school education to the island children. In 2005/2006, 14 children attended the school.
Figure 8: Scoil Naisiunta Inis Meain
Post-Primary school: Colaiste Naomh Eoin provides 2nd level education to children from the island as well as the mainland that now attend the school.
Library: Leabharlann Inis Meain is a branch of Galway County Council Library and is available on the island.
Playing Pitch: A gravel playing pitch was constructed to allow islanders and visitors to play basketball, football and other games.
Figure 9: Inis Meain public playing pitch
6 Infrastructure:
Roads: Inis Meain roads and tar macadam pathways cater for a variety of transport methods. Bicycles, cars and tractors are the most common forms of transport, but motor cycles and other motorised buggies are also prevalent. The primary thoroughfare almost bisects the island, going east from Synge’s chair to the pier at 'An Cora’. From the south, this road is linked to two roads and a number of pathways. On the north side, four roads link to the thoroughfare, one of which leads to the main pier and another to the island’s airstrip.
Figure 10: Inis Meain roads
Pier: A new purpose built pier; ‘Cé an Chaladh Mhóir’, was officially opened in November 2008. The Pier was completed at a cost of €14 million. As well as the harbour, a break-water was constructed as well as provision of parking facilities. A second pier is present at ‘An Corá’ on the east of the island.
Figure 11: Cé an Chaladh Mhóir
Airstrip: Constructed in the early 70’s the island’s airstrip enables twice daily flights to the mainland.
Figure 12: Inis Meain airstrip
Telephone and Broadband: A full telephone service has been provided on the island since 1989 and broadband is also available on the island.
7 Heritage:
Among the most unspoilt areas in the country, Inis Meain is extremely rich in culture and heritage. This Gaeltacht retreat has been home to Eoin MacNeill, Padraig Pearse and John Millington Synge in the past, in their quest to learn the countries first language. To this day the ancient language, culture and traditions peacefully merge with many of life’s modern conveniences. A selection of the historic sites that exist on Inis Meain are listed below:
‘Cill Cheannannach’ - (Church of the Cannons): This 8th or 9th century building commemorates St. Gregory.
‘Teampall na Seacht Mac Ri’ and ‘Tobar Chinndeirge’ – (Old church and holy well): This early church that historically attracted pilgremages from all over Ireland.
‘Dun Fearbhai’ and ‘Dun Chonchuir’ (Two Stone forts): Dating from about 100 AD, these two forts acted as fortresses in the distant past. Dun Chonchuir, the larger of the two forts is not dissimilar to legendary Dun Aonghus on Inis Mor.
Figure 13: Aerial view of Dun Chonchuir
Clochan – (Beehive hut): Traditional hut that are common on the far outposts on the west coast of Ireland. The stones corbel in until a single slab completes the roof at the top.
Leaba Dhiarmada ‘is Ghrainne – (Bed of Diarmaid and Grainne): Wedge tomb that possibly dates back to 4000 BC.
Chathaoir Synge – (Synge’s chair): Famous location where John Millington Synge sat and looked out over St. Gregory’s sound to Inis Mor.
8 Community Groups:
A variety of community groups are active and influence the lives of Inis Meain inhabitants.
Údarás na Gaeltachta:
Established in 1980, Údarás na Gaeltachta is the regional authority responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of Gaeltacht regions. Údarás na Gaeltachta also facilitates community groups, cooperatives and community development companies within Gaeltacht regions. The primary objective of Údarás na Gaeltachta is to ensure Irish remains the main language of the region and is passed on to future generations.
C.L.G. Oileáin Árann - (Aran Islands GAA Club):
Established in 1996, C.L.G. Oileáin Árann represents the three Aran islands of which Inis Meain is one. The club recently enjoyed its greatest triumph to date in 2009, when winning the junior crown at the ‘Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta’.
Inis Meain also competes annually in the ‘All island GAA Championship’ along with the other coastal islands, from Aranmore in the north to Bere Island in the south.
Comhar na nOileán Teo:
Comhar na nOileán Teo, is the LEADER/Partnership Company for the inhabited offshore islands of Ireland. The Company delivers Local Development Social Inclusion programmes to islands off the coast of Ireland. Along with Rural Development and LDSIP programmes, Comhar na nOileán Teo has taken over as the implementing body for the Rural Social Scheme on Ireland’s islands.
Comharchumann Inis Meain Teo:
Run under the umbrella of Comhar na nOilean Teo, Comharchumann Inis Meáin Teo is a co-operative that is primarily responsible for the following areas on the island:
• Electricity (Wind turbines)
• Water supply (Desalination plant)
• Air Service (Aer Arann Islands service)
• Development of infrastructure (Roads, Pier and Airstrip)
• Trade (Knitting company, Diving Company, Gaeltacht summer colleges etc.)
Figure 14: Comharchumann Inis Meain Teo
9 Conclusion:
In his book 'The Aran Islands', JM Synge remarked that 'the life is perhaps the most primitive that is left in Europe'. While this observation is open to discussion, over 100 years later, visitors to Inis Meain will see what one of its most famous residents was alluding to within minutes of arrival.
On a per capita basis, Inis Meain is extremely well serviced with impressive primary and secondary schools, as well as a post office, church and community hall. The daily air and sea services are also extremely impressive in catering for such a small population.
An initiative to remove old rusty vehicles from the island, the upkeep of derelict and unattractive holiday houses as well as a programme to combat vulnerable island locations from coastal erosion needs to be to the fore in the future. An ATM machine would be beneficial to the island’s inhabitants and visitors alike, and could only help to enhance local business.
One of the last true bastions of Gaelic culture, the island is faced with a sizeable dilemma in its overall community development. On one hand it has to strive to retain its unique and majestic culture and heritage, while on the other hand progressing and modernising so as to maintain a sizeable vibrant island community.
10 Bibliography:
• Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI), Shop.osi.ie Mapviewer,
http://ims0.osiemaps.ie/website/publicviewer/main.aspx#V1,493492,704641,4
[accessed 5th March 2010]
• Central Statistics Office Ireland (CSO), Census Results, www.cso.ie – Interactive tables.
• Fodors; “Ireland 2007”, Oileain Arainn (Aran Islands), P433-434.
• ‘Siuloid Inis Meain’; (The Inis Meain Way), Forbairt Arainn Teo ©.
• Aer Arann Islands, http://www.aerarannislands.ie/ [accessed March 16th 2010]
• Aran Island Ferries, http://www.aranislandferries.com/ [accessed March 16th 2010]
• (2008), New NDP funded harbour on Inis Meáin open for business, National Development Plan,
http://www.ndp.ie/viewprnt.asp?Docid=2157&mn=&nID=&UserLang=EN&CountyID=12&CatID=16&StartDate=1+January+2009 [accessed 4th March 2010]
• Údarás na Gaeltachta, www.udaras.ie [accessed March 20th 2010]
• Comhar na nOileán Teo, http://www.oileain.ie/en/ComharnanOilean
[accessed March 20th 2010]
• Synge, J.M.; "The Aran Islands" edited with an introduction by Tim Robinson (Penguin 1992)
• Galway County Council, Gaeltacht Local Area Plan 2008 - 2014, February 2008, http://www.galway.ie/en/Services/Planning/DevelopmentPlans/LocalAreaPlans/AdoptedPlans/GaeltachtLocalAreaPlan/English%20Adopted%20Plan.pdf
[accessed 10th March 2010]
• Irish Islands Federation, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, http://www.oileain.ie/docs/Inis%20Me%E1in%20En.pdf [accessed March 20th 2010]