Inis Meáin, Aran Islands

The name "Inis Meáin" means middle island. This is the quietest and the least visited (and the stoniest!) of the Aran Islands. "Above all, this is the last sanctuary from the modern world".

It has a population of approx 225 people and the island is 5km long and 2.5km wide.

Inis Meain lives and celebrates its heritage, rather than exploiting it. More of the Aran traditions are still actually practised on this island and a good part of Inis Meáin's tourism, such as the dive centre, is of the eco-tourism variety.

It's most famous visitor was the playwright, John Millington Synge who visited the island each year from 1898 to 1902. His patron, William Butler Yeats told Synge to "Give up Paris. Go to the Aran Islands. Live as if you were one of the people themselves; express a life that has never found expression." His play "Playboy of the Western World" was based on life on the island.

Places to visit / things to do on Inis Meáin

Dún Chonchúir
The most striking circular/oval dry-stone fort on the Aran Islands.There is another fort on the island: Dún Fearbhaí.
Photo courtesy of
The Burren and The Aran Islands - Carelton Jones

Mary Immaculate Church
Stained-glass windows by the famous Harry Clarke Studios. The altar was built by James Pearse, father of the Irish patriot Pádraic Pearse.

Cill Cheanainn
Legend tells that Cheannain was the mother of 'the seven sons of the king', which is the name of another church nearby.
Photo courtesy of Aidan Clarke

Teach Synge
The house where the playwright J M Synge stayed during his island visits

Knitwear factory

A staff of 21 people produce unique and traditional designer knitware for export to fashion capitals of the world.

Offers include a three-day dive safari, underwater photography workshop, dive club holidays.

091 582422 / 099 73134

An Dún