Aughinish, County Clare facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aughinish
Eachinis
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Island and village
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 Aughinish
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| County | County Clare |
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
Aughinish (sometimes written as Aughnish) is a small island and village in County Clare, Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish word Eachinis. It is located on the southern shore of Galway Bay. Even though it's part of County Clare, the only way to reach it by land is through County Galway.
Where is Aughinish Located?
Aughinish is part of the Barony of Burren in northern County Clare. It is about 10.9 kilometers (6.8 miles) northwest of Kinvarra by road. The island is roughly 3 kilometers (2 miles) wide. From its northernmost point to its southernmost, it measures about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile). Around fifty people live on the island.
How Aughinish Became an Island
A long time ago, Aughinish was connected to the rest of County Clare by land. However, in 1755, a huge tsunami hit the coast. This giant wave was caused by a massive earthquake that happened far away in Portugal. The tsunami broke the land connection, turning Aughinish into a true island.
Building the Causeway
After 1811, the British built a Martello Tower on Aughinish. These towers were strong, round forts used to defend the coast. To help their troops get to the tower, the British built a causeway. This causeway is about 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) long. It connects Aughinish to County Galway. Because of this, even today, you can only get to Aughinish, which is in County Clare, by driving through County Galway.
See also
In Spanish: Aughinish para niños
