Cruit Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cruit Island Oileán na Cruite
Populated place
South side of the island
Cruit Island Location in Ireland
Country	Ireland
Province	Ulster
County	County Donegal
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference	B847228

Cruit Island, known in Irish as An Chruit or Oileán na Cruite, is a small island where people live. It is located in the beautiful the Rosses area of County Donegal, Ireland. Getting to the island is easy because it is connected to the mainland by a bridge.

Music and Culture on Cruit Island

Cruit Island has a strong and lively musical history. Many talented musicians have come from this special place. One famous musician from the island was Seán McBride. In 1955, he wrote a very well-known Irish song called "The Homes of Donegal." This song is still loved by many people today. Another popular song, "Thíos Cois na Trá Domh," also started on Cruit Island. It remains a favorite tune, especially in the Gaeltacht areas of Donegal. These are places where the Irish language is still spoken every day.

Island Population Over Time

The number of people living on Cruit Island has changed a lot over the years. In the mid-1800s, around 250 to 280 people lived there. The population stayed fairly steady for many decades. However, by the mid-1900s, the number of residents began to decrease. It reached its lowest point in 2006, with only 53 people living on the island. Recently, the population has started to grow again. By 2020, there were 87 people living on Cruit Island. This shows how the island community has changed and adapted over time.