The History of Inishturk
Inishturk, meaning the Island of the Wild Boar in Irish, has been inhabited on and of since 4,000BCE and in its present phase since at least 1700.
The old settlers seem to have congregated at the southwest corner round the beautiful little harbour of Portdoon, where there is ample archeological evidence of their presence. The ancestry of the current population includes Wicklow, Wexford and Galway. Some of the dominant names include OíToole, Heanue and Concannon, names from Leinster, Ulster as well as the nearby Connemara Gaeltacht.
Traditionally Islanders have emigrated since the famine, to America and England. As a result the island is now English speaking although at the beginning of the 20th century Irish was the first language. Inishturk has a lovely harbour with a new improved pier, fine beaches and many interesting archaeological sites.
Geologically Inishturk dates from the Ordovician period. Two separate folds of schist and shaleís rise out of the Atlantic to form Inishturk, which is is a continuation of the same folds as Croagh Patrick on the Mayo mainland.
Traditionally Islanders have emigrated since the famine, to America and England. As a result the island is now English speaking although at the beginning of the 20th century Irish was the first language. Inishturk has a lovely harbour with a new improved pier, fine beaches and many interesting archaeological sites.
Geologically Inishturk dates from the Ordovician period. Two separate folds of schist and shaleís rise out of the Atlantic to form Inishturk, which is is a continuation of the same folds as Croagh Patrick on the Mayo mainland.
