List of islands of County Mayo facts for kids

Map of County Mayo's western seaboard

Achill is Ireland's largest island

Clew Bay contains 141 named islands, along with many small tidal islets

This article explores the islands of County Mayo, a county located on the mainland of Ireland. It includes both islands found in the sea and those in freshwater lakes, as officially recorded. You'll also learn about special areas important for nature, which are protected by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

County Mayo has hundreds of islands, both in the ocean and in its lakes. However, only a few are big enough to easily spot on a map. These include Achill Island, Clare Island, and Inishturk. There are also groups of islands like those in Duvillaun, Inishkea, Clew Bay, and the county's major lakes. More than 100 islands are larger than 10 acres (4 hectares). The biggest island is Achill, which is about 148 square kilometers (36,572 acres). This makes it the largest island off the coast of Ireland.

Mayo is known for having the longest coastline of any county in Ireland. It stretches for about 1,168 kilometers (726 miles), which is roughly 21% of Ireland's total coastline. This is because of its many bays, inlets, and offshore islands.

The rocks and landforms of Mayo and its islands are very diverse. Some islands, like those in Clew Bay, are low and flat. They formed when rising sea levels covered many small hills called drumlins. Other islands, such as Clare Island and Achill, have tall mountains and huge sea-cliffs. Croaghaun on Achill Island has the third-highest sea-cliffs in Europe, reaching 688 meters (2,257 feet) high.

The rocks on the islands generally fall into two main types. Islands north of Clew Bay, like Achill and those near the Mullet Peninsula, have very old rocks from the Dalradian period. These are similar to rocks found in County Donegal and the Grampian Highlands. Inishglora even has some of Ireland's oldest rocks, dating back 1.75 billion years! Further south, the islands have a wider variety of rocks. Clare Island alone has rocks from the Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, and Carboniferous periods, all joined together. The Clew Bay islands are the youngest in the county, formed about 350 million years ago during the Lower Carboniferous period.

For centuries, the islands off Ireland's west coast, including Mayo's, developed their own special cultures and traditions. Records from the 1841 Census show that 47 of Mayo's offshore islands had people living on them, with a total population of about 10,000. However, the Great Famine caused many islands to become empty or have very few people left. Towards the end of the 1800s, the population on larger islands started to grow again. But then, after Ireland gained independence, many people left the islands. The Irish government even encouraged people to move off the islands because it was expensive to provide services there. This made the population decline even faster.

Today, the Irish government sees the islands as a key part of Ireland's history and culture. They help preserve a unique way of life. The islands that still have people living on them get support and money from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. In 2016, about 2,700 people lived on 14 of Mayo's offshore islands. Most of them (2,440 people) live on Achill Island. This means islanders make up about 1.87% of the county's total population.

Islands of Mayo by Population Size

How Many People Live on the Islands?

The 2016 census showed that 14 offshore islands had people living on them. Achill has been connected to the mainland by a bridge since 1887. This makes Clare Island the most populated island that is not connected to the mainland, with 159 residents in 2016. Clare Island is the fifth most populated unconnected island in Ireland. The three Aran Islands off Galway and Arranmore off County Donegal have more people.

A deserted village on Achill

Mayo County Council manages the islands. Islanders get certain benefits, like lower car tax rates. The islands also receive money from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. This is because many offshore islands and parts of northwest Mayo are recognized Gaeltacht areas, where the Irish language is spoken.

Before the Great Famine, as many as 47 offshore islands had people living on them all the time. Communities had lived on these islands for many generations. You can still see what they left behind today, like old villages, stone walls, and lazybeds (a type of garden bed). By the late 1800s, most of Mayo's islands were empty. Achill was different because its bridge to the mainland helped its population grow for a while, reaching its highest point in 1911.

Fish curing on Clare Island, around 1900

People continued to leave the islands in the 1900s. Traditional jobs like fishing and making textiles didn't pay enough for young islanders. Recently, the islands have become popular places for tourists. They rely a lot on tourism and hotels. Their populations grow a lot during the summer, especially on Achill and Clare. Fun activities include surfing, sailing, island-hopping in Clew Bay, spiritual retreats, and eco-tourism (tourism that helps nature).

The table below shows how the populations of the 14 currently inhabited islands have changed. Overall, the number of people living on Mayo's offshore islands continues to decrease. The population is now at its lowest point in history. County Mayo was one of only three counties in Ireland where the population went down between 2011 and 2016. Mayo's population dropped by 0.2%, while the islands' population fell by 5.3%. Even though the overall population went down, four islands that were empty before got new residents. This includes Achillbeg, which had been empty since 1965.

Islands with People Living There Now

Rank	Island	Barony	Population
Rank	Island	Barony	2016	2011	1841	Peak Population (if not 1841)
1	Achill	Burrishoole	2,440	2,569	4,901	5,260 (1911)
2	Clare	Murrisk	159	168	1,615
3	Inishturk	Murrisk	51	53	577
4	Inis Bigil	Erris	18	25	67	162 (1926)
5	Collanmore	Burrishoole	7	4	213	215 (1851)
6	Inishnakillew	Burrishoole	6	7	126
7	Inishlyre	Burrishoole	4	4	113	122 (1851)
8	Clynish	Burrishoole	4	4	87
9	Inish Turk Beg	Burrishoole	4	10	57
10	Duvillaun More	Erris	2	2	31
11	Collanbeg	Burrishoole	2	0	4	9 (1861)
12	Achillbeg	Burrishoole	1	0	178
13	Inishkea North	Burrishoole	1	0	155
14	Rosbarnagh	Burrishoole	1	0	42
	Total		2,700	2,846	8,166
	Change		-5.3%	-65.2%	-

Islands Where People Used to Live

Island	Barony	Population
Island	Barony	1841	Peak Population (if not 1841)	Year Abandoned
Rosmore Island	Burrishoole	133
Moynish More	Burrishoole	99		1881-1891
Island More	Burrishoole	88
Rosturk Island	Burrishoole	64
Inishkea South	Erris	62		1934
Inishdaff	Burrishoole	57
Inishgowla South	Burrishoole	52
Inishtubbrid	Burrishoole	42
Knockycahillaun	Burrishoole	41
Inishcottle	Burrishoole	40	45 (1911)	2011-2016
Derrinish	Burrishoole	40
Inishquirk	Burrishoole	37
Inisheeny	Burrishoole	36
Annagh Islands	Erris	33		1851
Illanataggart	Burrishoole	33
Inishgort	Burrishoole	32	35 (1871)	2006-2011
Crovinish	Burrishoole	32
Inishoo	Burrishoole	29
Bartragh Island	Tirawley	28		1951
Inisherkin	Burrishoole	28
Inishgowla	Burrishoole	28
Inishnacross	Burrishoole	27
Inishturlin	Burrishoole	25
Inishkeel	Burrishoole	23
Inishbee	Burrishoole	20
Inishglora	Erris	16
Eagle Island	Erris	15	22 (1861)	1988
Dorinish	Burrishoole	13	15 (1871)	1901
Inishbobunnan	Burrishoole	13
Inishilra	Burrishoole	12
Inishcooa	Burrishoole	6
Barranagh Island	Erris	0	1 (1874)	late 1800s
Blackrock Island	Erris	0	15 (1881)	1974
Roman Island	Burrishoole	0	36 (1911)	1966-1971
	Total	1,229

Islands of Mayo by Size

The Largest Islands

Except for Achill, most of County Mayo's islands are small. Only 13 are larger than 100 acres (40 hectares), and just 3 are bigger than 1,000 acres (405 hectares). There are many offshore islands between 10 and 100 acres. Also, at least 15 freshwater islands are larger than 10 acres. The biggest freshwater island is Illannaglashy on Lough Conn, which is 82 acres (33 hectares).

Here is a list of the largest islands in the county. "F" means it's a freshwater island.

Achill

Inishkea South

Inishnakillew

Rosturk

Kid Island

Eagle Island

Inishraher

Dorinish

Island	Irish name	Archipelago / Location	Area (Acres)	Highest Point
Achill	Acaill	Achill Islands	36,572	688 m (2,257 ft)
Clare	Oileán Chliara	Clew Bay	4,053	462 m (1,516 ft)
Inishturk	Inis Toirc	Atlantic Islands	1,620	191 m (627 ft)
Inishbiggle	Inis Bigil	Achill Islands	637	34 m (112 ft)
Annagh Island	Oileán an Eanaigh	Achill Islands	627	23 m (75 ft)
Inishkea North	Inis Gé Thuaidh	Inishkea Islands	574	24 m (79 ft)
Bartragh Island	An Bheartrach	Killala Bay	477	26 m (85 ft)
Inishkea South	Inis Gé Theas	Inishkea Islands	389	72 m (236 ft)
Achillbeg	Acaill Bheag	Achill Islands	331	110 m (360 ft)
Collanmore Island	Collainn Mhór	Clew Bay	199	53 m (174 ft)
Duvillaun More	Dubhoileán Mór	Duvillaun Islands	177	63 m (207 ft)
Caher Island	Cathair na Naomh	Atlantic Islands	130	61 m (200 ft)
Rosmore Island	An Ros Mór	Newport Bay	116	28 m (92 ft)
Illannaglashy (F)	Oileán na Glaise	Lough Conn	82	27 m (89 ft)
Clynish	Claínis	Clew Bay	81	42 m (138 ft)
Island More	An tOileán Mór	Clew Bay	78	42 m (138 ft)
Barranagh Island	Oileán Bearanach	Blacksod Bay	74	7 m (23 ft)
Inish Turk Beg	Inis Toirc Bheag	Clew Bay	64	53 m (174 ft)
Inishnakillew	Inis na Coilleadh	Newport Bay	64	27 m (89 ft)
Moynish More	Maínis Mór	Clew Bay	62	37 m (121 ft)
Inishglora	Inis Gluaire	Atlantic Islands	60	22 m (72 ft)
Inishbee	Inis Bí	Newport Bay	56	29 m (95 ft)
Duvillaun Beg	Dubhoileán Beag	Duvillaun Islands	53	14 m (46 ft)
Rosbarnagh Island	Oileán Ros Bairneach	Newport Bay	53	37 m (121 ft)
Inishlyre	Inis Ladhair	Dorinish Harbour	52	26 m (85 ft)
Annagh Island East	An tEanach Thoir	Wesport Bay	48	9 m (30 ft)
Annagh Island (F)	Oileán an Eanaigh	Lough Conn	45	23 m (75 ft)
Inishtubbrid	Inis Tiobrad	Newport Bay	41	28 m (92 ft)
Inishdaff	Inis Damh	Newport Bay	40	31 m (102 ft)
Inishower (F)	Inis Odhar	Furnace Lough	36	16 m (52 ft)
Knockycahillaun	Cnoc Uí Chathaláin	Clew Bay	35	36 m (118 ft)
Carrigeenamore (F)	An Carraigín Mór	Lough Mask	35	22 m (72 ft)
Bleanmore Island	An Bhléan Mhór	Corraun Peninsula	34	14 m (46 ft)
Rosturk Island	Ros Toirc	Newport Bay	34	24 m (79 ft)
Inishgowla	Inis Gabhla	Newport Bay	33	28 m (92 ft)
Inishdegil More	Inis Téigil Mór	Atlantic Islands	32	12 m (39 ft)
Inishkeeragh	Inis Caorach	Atlantic Islands	32	17 m (56 ft)
Kid Island	Oileán Mionnán	Broadhaven Bay	32	86 m (282 ft)
Illanataggart	Oileán an tSagairt	Clew Bay	32	28 m (92 ft)
Carrickmoylenacurhoga	Carraig Bhéal na gCaróg	Inishkea Islands	32	14 m (46 ft)
Inishquirk	Inis Coirce	Newport Bay	32	44 m (144 ft)
Inishgort	Inis Goirt	Clew Bay	31	29 m (95 ft)
Inishsherkin	Inis Earcáin	Newport Bay	31	30 m (98 ft)
Inishkeel	Inis Caol	Newport Bay	30	27 m (89 ft)
Crovinish	Croibhinis	Dorinish Harbour	29	23 m (75 ft)
Derrinish	Dairinis	Newport Bay	29	21 m (69 ft)
Inishraher	Inis Raithir	Westport Bay	29	33 m (108 ft)
Inishlaughil	Inis Leamhchoille	Newport Bay	28	45 m (148 ft)
Bartraw Island	An Bheartrach	Westport Bay	28	13 m (43 ft)
Inishgowla South	Inis Gabhla Theas	Westport Bay	28	20 m (66 ft)
Inishnacross	Inis na Croise	Newport Bay	27	36 m (118 ft)
Inisheeny	Inis Aonaigh	Westport Bay	27	22 m (72 ft)
Muckinish	Muicinis	Newport Bay	26	37 m (121 ft)
Annaghroe Island (F)	An tEanach Rua	Lough Conn	25	18 m (59 ft)
Glassillan	An Glasoileán	Achill Island	25	23 m (75 ft)
Inishcottle	Inis Cotail	Newport Bay	25	26 m (85 ft)
Inishgleasty (F)	Inis Gléasta	Lough Mask	24	37 m (121 ft)
Inishbobunnan	Inis Bó Bonnán	Newport Bay	24	31 m (102 ft)
Eagle Island	Oileán sa Tuaidh	Atlantic Islands	23	60 m (200 ft)
Roeillaun	Rua-oileán	Clew Bay	23	33 m (108 ft)
Inishloy	Inis Láí	Newport Bay	23	10 m (33 ft)
Inishcooa	Inis Cua	Newport Bay	23	27 m (89 ft)
Long Island (F)	An tOileán Fada	Lough Mask	22	25 m (82 ft)
Rabbit Island	Oileán Bhríde	Clew Bay	21	22 m (72 ft)
Inishrobe (F)	Inis Róba	Lough Mask	21	30 m (98 ft)
Inishturlin	Inis Tuirlinge	Newport Bay	21	27 m (89 ft)
Inishcuill	Inis Coill	Newport Bay	21	28 m (92 ft)
Derreens Island (F)	An Doirín	Carrowmore Lake	20	8 m (26 ft)
Dorinish	Deoirinis	Clew Bay	20	30 m (98 ft)
Roslynagh	Ros Laighneach	Clew Bay	18	33 m (108 ft)
Illannambraher East	Oileán na mBráthar Thoir	Clew Bay	18	28 m (92 ft)
Carrickawilt	Carraig an Mhoilt	Inishkea Islands	18	9 m (30 ft)
Inishoght (F)	Inis Uicht	Lough Mask	18	25 m (82 ft)
Collanbeg Island	Collainn Bheag	Clew Bay	17	25 m (82 ft)
Inishoo	Inis Uamha	Clew Bay	17	32 m (105 ft)
Annagh Island West	An tEanach Thiar	Westport Bay	17	11 m (36 ft)
Inishdaweel	Inis Dá Mhaol	Clew Bay	16	38 m (125 ft)
Carrigee	Carraig Aodha	Inishkea Islands	16	15 m (49 ft)
River Island (F)	Oileán na hAbhann	Lough Mask	16	13 m (43 ft)
Saints Island (F)	Inis Na Naomh	Lough Mask	16	30 m (98 ft)
Inishdurra (F)	Inis Dura	Lough Mask	16	32 m (105 ft)
Inishleague	Inis Liag	Wesport Bay	16	24 m (79 ft)
Baunros More	Bánros Mór	Killala Bay	15	13 m (43 ft)
Inishdalla	Inis Deala	Atlantic Islands	15	27 m (89 ft)
Inishdasky	Inis Teasctha	Clew Bay	15	30 m (98 ft)
Annaghteige Island (F)	Eanach Thaidhg	Lough Conn	15	27 m (89 ft)
Rabbit Island	Oileán Bhríde	Newport Bay	15	28 m (92 ft)
Illandavuck	Oileán Dhabhaic	Atlantic Islands	14	56 m (184 ft)
Conors Island (F)	Oileán Chonchúir	Lough Carra	14	20 m (66 ft)
Inishfesh	Inis Feise	Clew Bay	13	10 m (33 ft)
Inishaghoo	Inis Achadh	Achill Islands	13	20 m (66 ft)
Carrigeenagur Island (F)	Carraigín na gCorr	Lough Mask	13	23 m (75 ft)
Pig Island (F)	Oileán na Muice	Lough Mask	13	28 m (92 ft)
Illannambraher West	Oileán na mBráthar Thiar	Clew Bay	12	25 m (82 ft)
Inishkee	Inis Caoich	Clew Bay	12	14 m (46 ft)
Inishdoonver	Inis Dúnmhar	Clew Bay	12	25 m (82 ft)
Lambs Island (F)	Oileán na nUan	Lough Mask	12	11 m (36 ft)
Devenish Island (F)	Daimhinis	Lough Mask	12	30 m (98 ft)
Annagh Island Middle	An tEanach Lár	Westport Bay	12	7 m (23 ft)
Goose Island	Inis na nGé	Killala Bay	12	12 m (39 ft)

Smaller Islands in the Sea

County Mayo has hundreds of smaller islands and tiny islets. Most of these are in Clew Bay. Smaller groups are found around the Achill islands, the west and south coasts of the Mullet Peninsula, and Blacksod Bay. This list isn't complete, but it includes named offshore islands that are fairly large (usually more than 2 acres) or are important locally.

This list is in alphabetical order and does not include freshwater islands.

Map of Clew Bay (1890)

Small islands in Clew Bay

The Stags

Mweelaun

Inishdaugh

Inishdalla

Islet off Killadoon

Bills Rocks

Dún Briste

Blackrock Island

Island	Irish name	Archipelago / Location
Annagh Island	Oileán an Eanaigh	Mullet Peninsula
Ardillaun	Ardoileán	Killala Bay
Attimonbeg	Áth Tíomáin Beag	Killala Bay
Baunros Beg	Bánros Beag	Killala Bay
Baunros More	Bánros Mór	Killala Bay
Beetle Island North	Oileán an tSindile Thuaidh	Clew Bay
Beetle Island South	Oileán an tSindile Theas	Clew Bay
Bills Rocks	Carraig Bill	Atlantic Islands
Blackrock Island	An Tor	Atlantic Islands
Buddagh	An Chailleach	Benwee Head
Calf Island	Oileán an Ghamhna	Clew Bay
Calf Island	Oileán an Ghamhna	Killala Bay
Camel Island	Oileán Camall	Newport Bay
Carrickduff	An Charraig Dhubh	Mullet Peninsula
Carrickduff	An Charraig Dhubh	North Mayo Coast
Carrickhesk	Carraig Sheisc	Mullet Peninsula
Carricknaronty	Carraig na Rónta	Atlantic Islands
Carricknaronty North	Carraig na Rónta Thuaidh	Mullet Peninsula
Carricknaweeloge	Carraig na bhFaoileog	Mullet Peninsula
Carrigeenglass North	An Carraigín Glas Thuaidh	Clew Bay
Cone Island	Oileán an Chuain	Mullet Peninsula
Corillan	Corroileán	Westport Bay
Carrigeenaveagh	Carraigín na bhFiach	Clew Bay
Cregnarullah	Sceir na Roilleach	Mullet Peninsula
Cross Rock	An Charraig Dhubh	Mullet Peninsula
Doonvinalla	An Dúna	Benwee Head
Doonbristy Island	Dún Briste	North Mayo Coast
Dooneen Island	An Dúnín	Uggool Beach
Finnaun Island	Fionnán	Westport Bay
Forillan	Foroileán	Westport Bay
Freaghillan	Fraochoileán	Killala Bay
Freaghillan East	Fraochoileán Thoir	Newport Bay
Freaghillanluggagh	Fraochoileán Logach	Newport Bay
Glassillaun	Glasoileán	North Mayo Coast
Green Island	An tOileán Glas	Westport Bay
Green Island	An tOileán Glas	Killala Bay
Heath Island	Oileán Fraoigh	Corraun Peninsula
Horse Island	Oileán na gCapall	North Mayo Coast
Illancroagh	Oileán Cruaiche	Corraun Peninsula
Illanleamnahelty	Oileán Léim na hEilte	Atlantic Islands
Illanmaster	Oileán Máistir	North Mayo Coast
Illanmaw	Má-oileán	Clew Bay
Illannaconney	Oileán an Chonnaidh	Clew Bay
Illannakanoge	Oileán na gCánóg	North Mayo Coast
Illannamona	Oileán na Móna	Achill Islands
Illaunatee	Oileán an Tí	Clew Bay
Illaunroe	An tOileán Rua	Clew Bay
Inishacrick	Inis an Chnoic	Clew Bay
Inishbollog	Inis Bolg	Clew Bay
Inishcannon	Inis Ceannann	Newport Bay
Inishcoragh	Inis Córach	Newport Bay
Inishcorky	Inis Corcaí	Clew Bay
Inishdaugh	Inis Deách	Clew Bay
Inishdeash Beg	Inis Déise Beag	Clew Bay
Inishdeash More	Inis Déise Mór	Clew Bay
Inishderry	Inis Doire	Mullet Peninsula
Inishilra	Inis Iolra	Clew Bay
Inishimmel	Inis Imill	Westport Bay
Inishlaghan	Inis Lachan	Clew Bay
Inishlim	Inis Loim	Clew Bay
Inishmolt	Inis Molt	Newport Bay
Kid Island East	Oileán na Meannán	Newport Bay
Mauherillan	Máthairoileán	Newport Bay
Money Beg	An Muine Bheag	Clew Bay
Moynish Beg	Maínis Beag	Clew Bay
Mweelaun	Mhaoilinne	Atlantic Islands
Pig Island	Oileán na Muice	North Mayo Coast
Quinsheen Island	Cuinsín	Clew Bay
Roeillan	Rua-oileán	Achill Islands
Rosnambraher	Ros na mBráthar	Newport Bay
Sloe Island	Oileán na nAirní	Westport Bay
The Stags	Na Stacaí	Benwee Head
Toghercloheen	Barr na Spince	North Mayo Coast
Torduff	An Tor Dubh	North Mayo Coast

Freshwater Islands in Mayo's Lakes

County Mayo has many large lakes, called loughs, which contain hundreds of small freshwater islands. Lough Mask in southern Mayo is the biggest lake in the county. It covers about 83 square kilometers (20,510 acres), making it the 6th largest lake in Ireland and in Britain and Ireland. Further south, Lough Corrib is the 2nd largest lake in Ireland, but only a small part of it is in County Mayo.

Illannaglashy, on Lough Conn, is the largest freshwater island in the county, at 82 acres (33 hectares). Freshwater islands have been important throughout Mayo's history. Many have old castles, monasteries, church ruins, and beautiful, untouched woodlands.

Islands of Lough Mask

Loughs of northern Mayo

Loughs of southern Mayo

Note: Most of Lough Mask is in County Mayo, but a small southern part is in County Galway. This list only includes islands within County Mayo's border.

Aghinish
Bed Island
Bilberry Island
Black Island
Black Island
Board Island
Carrigeen Island
Carrigeen Middle
Carrigeenabreana
Carrigeenagur Island
Carrigeenamore
Carrigeenavilla
Carrigeenaweelaun
Carrigeenbaun
Carrigeenbunnahown
Carrigeendany Islands
Carrigeenduree
Carrigeenfair Island
Carrigeenkeelagh
Carrigeenmauntrasna
Carrigeennagool
Carrigeennalogh
Carrigeennasassonagh
Carrigeenowen
Carrigeenshangorman
Castle Hag
Cow Island
Dash Island
Devenish Island
Doran Islands
Goat Island
Green Island
Gull Island
Flag Island
Heath Island
Illan Columbkille
Illanboe Beg
Illanboe More
Illandawaur
Ingon Island
Inishangan
Inishdurra
Inishgleasty
Inishoght
Inishowenlackboy
Inishrobe
Kid Island
Lackboy
Lamb Island
Long Island
Long Islands
Lusteen Beg
Lusteen More
Nut Island
Oak Island
Pig Island
Rams Island
Rialisk
Ringolden
River Island
Saints Island
Seerillaun
Shangorman
Shrub Island
Thick Island
Whiteland Island

Islands of Lough Carra

Ballycally Island
Bird Island
Bonnianillish Island
Bush Island
Carrigeennagat Island
Castle Island
Castlehag Island
Church Island
Conors Island
Cow Islands
Crane Island
Creevagh Island
Deer Island
Derrinrush Island
Derrynafresha Island
Doonbeg Island North
Doonbeg Island South
Gleneary Island
Hog Island
Horse Island
Illanatrim
Kiln Island
Lady's Island
Lakeview Island
Leamnahye Island
Long Island
Mearing Island
Otter Island
Otter Island
Otter Islands
Pleasure Island
Priest Island
Rat Island
Stare Island
Stony Island

Islands of Lough Corrib

Note: Most of Lough Corrib is in County Galway, but a small northern part is in County Mayo. This list only includes islands within County Mayo's border.

Abbots Rock
Ballycurrin Island
Bartragh Island
Bertragh Islands
Blackderry Island
Blackderry Rock
Bushy Island
Camillaun
Carrigeen
Castletown Rock
Cornelian Islands
Crow Islands
Dog Islands
Easter Island
Flower Island
Gibbs Islands
Grass Island
Green Island
Green Island East
Holy Island
Inishkeeragh Island
Island Morris
Kilmore
Kilmorebeg
Matthew Island
Mine Island
Mucky Island
Oak Island
Prison Islands
Rabbit Island
Red Island
Salmon Island
Salmon Point Island
Sloe Island
Whiskey Island

Islands of Lough Conn

Annagh Island
Annaghroe Island
Annaghteige Island
Bears Island
Burnt Island
Carnaweelan Island
Castle Island
Chain Island
Cliff Island
Coarse Island
Cragh Islands
Creeve Island
Freaghillan
Illanaghty
Illanaloughaun
Illanbeg
Illannaglashy
Inishlee Island
Longford Island
Loosky Island
Rinard Island
Rocky Island
Roe Island
Sandy Island

Islands in Smaller Lakes

Lough Cullin

Griffins Island
Illanboy
Illaner
Illangub
Illanneill
Illanulque

Lough Beltra

Bush Island
Coarse Island
Islandmore
Low Island
Tree Island

Carrowmore Lake

Atlavally Island
Derreens Island
Gortmore Island
Muingerroon Island

Furnace Lough

Illanroe
Inishower
Saints Island

Islandeady Lough

Note: Islandeady Lough used to have three large islands. However, because water levels were lowered in the 1900s, these islands are now connected to the land and are considered peninsulas.
Illanlteige East
Illanteige West
Islandeady

Islands with Monasteries

Clare Island Abbey

Six islands in County Mayo once had monasteries or abbeys built on them. Four of these are offshore islands, and two are freshwater islands. They are:

Church Island Monastery (Freshwater)
Clare Island Abbey
Duvillaun Monastery
Inishkea North Monastery
Inishglora Monastery
Partry Monastery (Freshwater)

Many other islands in the county were also used for religious purposes. You can find the ruins of old churches and cemeteries scattered across them.

Nature and Wildlife on the Islands

Many of Mayo's islands, both in the sea and in lakes, are protected areas because they are important for nature and wildlife. They are home to hundreds of different birds, fish, and marine mammals, as well as unique plants. Five of the county's main inland lakes (and their islands) are also protected. These are Lough Mask, Lough Conn, Lough Cullin, Lough Carra, and Carrowmore Lake.

The wildlife on the islands is protected under different names. These names sometimes overlap because different protections apply to different animals or plants. For example, the Duvillaun Islands are a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a Special Protection Area (SPA), and a proposed Natural Heritage Area (NHA).

Special Area of Conservation (SAC) - These are top wildlife areas in Ireland. They are important for nature across Europe and in Ireland.
Special Protection Area (SPA) - These areas are set aside under a European Union rule to protect wild birds that are in danger.
Natural Heritage Area (NHA) - This is an area important for its natural habitats or for plants and animals that need their homes protected.

The following protected areas are on or near County Mayo's offshore islands. The five major inland lakes that are SPAs are also included, shown in italics below.