Inishbiggle

Inishbiggle
Native name: <span class="nickname" ">Inis Bigil

Geography
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	53°59′45″N 9°54′15″W / 53.99583°N 9.90417°W / 53.99583; -9.90417Coordinates: 53°59′45″N 9°54′15″W / 53.99583°N 9.90417°W / 53.99583; -9.90417
Administration
Ireland
Province	Connacht
County	Mayo
Demographics
Population	39

Inishbiggle (Inis Bigil in Irish) is a small inhabited island off the coast of Ballycroy in Co. Mayo. Its name in Irish means "Island of Fasting."

Geography

The island is situated between the northeast of Achill Island and the mainland, and is accessed by boat from either Doran's point at Ballycroy or Bullsmouth, Dooniver on Achill Island.The island is 2½ km x 1½ km, or 650 acres (2.6 km²) in area.

Description

The main activities are sheep and cattle farming, fishing and winkle picking. Facilities on the island included a school and a post office, both now closed. Plans to build a cable-car link across the very dangerous Bullsmouth Channel, one of the strongest currents in Europe separating the island from Achill had been under discussion since 1996, but have now been abandoned due to the high cost and the money was given towards the Achill bridge redevelopment. Unpredictable currents in the channel during winter months can render the island inaccessible, even though the passage during fair weather is about ten minutes in the traditional boat, the currach. Emergency access is by helicopter.

The population is now down to a few dozen, almost all elderly. All speak Irish Gaelic as their first and community language.

Demographics

The table below reports data on Inishbiggle's population taken from Discover the Islands of Ireland (Alex Ritsema, Collins Press, 1999) and the Census of Ireland.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1841	67	—
1851	61	−9.0%
1901	135	+121.3%
1951	123	−8.9%

Year	Pop.	±%
1996	48	−61.0%
2002	39	−18.8%
2006	24	−38.5%
2011	25	+4.2%

Source: John Chambers. "Islands - Change in Population 1841 - 2011". irishislands.info. Retrieved June 14, 2015.

External links

Discover Ireland - Inishbiggle

Places in County Mayo

County town: Castlebar

Towns	Ballina Ballinrobe Castlebar Claremorris Westport

Villages and townlands	Achill Sound Aghamore Attymass Aughagower Aughleam Balla Ballindine Ballintubber Ballycastle Ballycroy Ballyglass Ballyhaunis Bangor Erris Bekan Belcarra Belderrig Bellacorick Bellavary Belmullet Binghamstown Bohola Bonniconlon Breaffy Brickens Bun an Churraigh Carrowteige Carnacon Cashel Castlehill Charlestown Cogaula Cong Corrimbla Corroy Cregganbaun Cross Crossmolina Delphi Derrew Dooega Doohoma Dooniver Drummin Errew Foxford Glenamoy Glencastle Glengad Glenhest Glinsk Gweesalia Hollymount Irishtown Islandeady Keel Kilcummin Kilgalligan Kilkelly Killala Killawalla Kilmaine Kilmeena Kilmovee Kiltimagh Knock Knockmore Lahardane Lecanvey Louisburgh Mayo Meelick Moygownagh Mulranny Murrisk Neale Newport Partry Pontoon Rakestreet Rossport Salia Shammer Shrule Strade Swinford Toormakeady Tulrahan Turlough

Baronies	Burrishoole Carra Clanmorris Costello Erris Gallen Kilmaine Murrisk Tirawley

Islands	Achill Island Achillbeg Bartragh Island Caher Island Clare Island Collanmore Island Dorinish Eagle Island Illanmaster Inishbiggle Inishglora Inishlyre Inishturk Inish Turk Beg

List of townlands of County Mayo Category:Geography of County Mayo

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.