Coney Island, County Sligo facts for kids
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Native name:
Inis Uí Mhaolchluiche
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Overview from Knocknarea
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 Coney Island
Location in island of Ireland
Location in Ireland
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| Geography | |
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 54°17′46″N 8°35′17″W / 54.2962°N 8.588°W |
| Area | 1.62 km2 (0.63 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | Sligo |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 2 (2011) |
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Coney Island, also called Inishmulclohy (Irish: Inis Uí Mhaolchluiche), is a small island in Sligo Bay, County Sligo, Ireland. It sits between the Rosses Point and Coolera areas. This island is about 400 acres (1.62 square kilometers) in size. It is named after the many rabbits that live there. The word "coney" is an old English term for a rabbit.
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Island History and People
Coney Island once had many more people living on it. In 1862, about 124 people called the island home. There was even a local school with 45 children attending. Over the years, the number of permanent residents has become much smaller.
Today, only one family lives on the island all year round. This family's history on the island goes back to the 1750s. However, many other people visit or stay temporarily, especially during the summer months. The island finally got electricity in 1999 through an underground cable.
Fun Things to Do on Coney Island
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Visitors to Coney Island can enjoy many activities. You can visit the local pub or look for the special fairy ring. There are also old Napoleonic star-shaped forts to explore.
If you like beaches, you can find Carty’s Strand. This is a quiet beach at the back of the island, perfect for a swim. Walking around the island is also popular. You might spot some of the many rabbits. You can also see the old schoolhouse and other buildings from a long time ago.
Island Stories and Folklore
Coney Island is full of interesting stories. People tell tales of fairies, mermaids, and spirits living on the island. Visitors often try to find the famous St. Patrick's wishing chair. There is also St. Patrick's well and the remains of a whale that washed ashore. You might even discover some old fairy forts.
There is a cool story about how Coney Island, New York, got its name. In the past, a merchant ship called the "Arethusa" sailed between Sligo and New York City. The ship's captain saw many rabbits on the New York island. He then decided to name it Coney Island, just like his home island in Sligo Bay.
How to Get to Coney Island
You can reach Coney Island in a few ways. One way is by taking a boat from Rosses Point. Another unique way is to drive or walk across the causeway. This causeway is two and a half kilometers long. It crosses Cummeen Strand and can only be used at low tide.
Fourteen pillars guide the way across the causeway. These pillars were built in the mid-1800s. They line up with the Black Rock lighthouse to help people travel safely at night. The pillars were built after some difficult journeys in the 1800s. One of these incidents involved the island's owner, William Dorrin, in 1823.
