Gores Island facts for kids

Gores Island, sometimes called Gore's Island, is a small island in Strangford Lough in County Down, Northern Ireland. It's connected to another island, Castle Island, and then to the main land by a special road. This road is called a causeway, and you can only use it when the tide is low. People used to live on Gores Island, but no one has lived there since the early 1900s.

Exploring Gores Island: Where It Is

Gores Island is found at the southern part of Strangford Lough. It sits near where the Quoile River flows into the lough. The island is north of the town of Downpatrick and south of Killyleagh. Nearby islands include Salt Island to the northeast and Castle Island to the southwest.

Gores Island covers about 90 acres (36 hectares). It is linked to Castle Island by a raised causeway. This causeway can only be used when the tide is low. The island has two hills. One is about 88 feet (27 meters) high, and the other is about 50 feet (15 meters) high. When the tide is low, the edges of the island are surrounded by soft, muddy areas. These can be tricky to walk on.

A Look at Gores Island's Past

Gores Island was once home to families. One of the last people to live there was a farmer named Samuel Spratt, who passed away in 1898. His wife, Jane Spratt, lived on the island for 70 years. She died there in 1910 when she was 98 years old.

After the early 1900s, no one lived on the island for many years. In the 1940s and 1950s, Gores Island became a summer camp. Boys and girls from special schools, like the Malone Training School in Belfast, would visit. These schools helped young people who needed extra care or training.

Today, the island is still used for fun activities. The nearby Quoile Yacht Club holds an event called the "Gore's Island Race" every year.

Wildlife on Gores Island

Gores Island is a home for different kinds of butterflies. You might see the small white butterfly (Pieris rapae) or the green-veined white (Pieris napi). Other colorful butterflies include the Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), the peacock butterfly (Aglais io), and the Red admiral (Vanessa cardui). The island's plants and open spaces provide a good habitat for these insects.