Inis Bó Finne - the island of the white cow is locted four miles from the village of An Fál Carrach (Falcarragh), or just two miles (a 10-minute boat trip) from the pier at Machaire Rabhartaigh (Magheraroarty).
Covering 300 acres, it is a small island, the southern half of the island is fertile and was cultivated in the past in the traditional clachan and rundale manner, which involved communal usage of scarce arable soil and cattle pasture. There are two villages on the island, one near the harbour of An Clachán, and the other a short distance away at An Garradh Bán.
Places of interest:
- Ancient farmsteads and field boundaries;
- The White Stone - situated in the middle of the island, it has links with the story of the white cow;
- Schoolhouse and the Church;
- Unusual rock formations in the red and white granite cliffs at the north of the island;
- Caves at Tóin na Maoile Móire;
- Sea-arch at Scoilt an Droichid;
- The stone beach at Erroonagh with its smooth, egg-like stones of perfect colours, shapes and textures will take your breath away;
Walking
Take an invigorating walk around the island while being revitalised by the fresh Atlantic sea breeze. Walk on the fine, golden sands of the east beach at Tobar an Ghlasáin where you can go for a refreshing swim.
Views from the island summit (An Mullach) are spectacular. In good weather, you can see the white-faced cone of Errigal and table-top Muckish mountain. You can also see Cnoc Fola (Bloody Foreland), the cliffs of Horn Head, Toraigh and the neighbouring islands of Inis Dumhaigh (Inishdooey) and Inis Beag (Inishbeg).
Birdwaching
In summer, Inis Bó Finne reverberates to the call of the corncrake, a bird species that has vanished from most parts of Ireland. The island holds 10-20 calling males each summer, an important concentration of this globally endangered species.
Peregrine falcons and choughs regularly visit the island, which is inside a candidate Special Area Conservation. In summer, some 30-70 breeding pairs of Arctic terns are distributed between Inis Bó Finne and Inis Dumhaigh. The latter island holds colonies of cliff-nesting seabirds, including fulmars, shags and gulls and a colony of eider ducks.
In winter, Inis Bó Finne is visited by an internationally important flock of some 400 barnacle geese, occasionally accompanied by Greenland white-fronted geese.
Windsurfing & Kayaking
The spectacular bay and beach at nearby Machaire Rabhartaigh is popular with windsurfers and sea-kayakers.
Getting there:
Boffin Ferry Donegal - Machaire Rabhartaigh (Magheraroarty)
Tel: +353 (0)87 434 5892 W: www.boffinferrydonegal.com
Gach eolas / Information
Coiste Forbartha Inis Bó Finne
Tel: +353 (0)87 993 5544
Comharchumann na NOileán Beag
Tel: +353 (0)74 953 2571