INISHARK

Inishark, whose name translates to either Island of the Piglet of the Island of Earc (a personal name), is located about one kilometre as the crow flies from Inishbofin (and approximately four kilometres from pier to pier) and approximately twelve kilometres by boat from the Cleggan pier. Similar to Inishbofin, the material footprints of Inishark’s three main periods of occupation dominate the island’s landscape: Late Bronze Age stone field wall systems and foundations of stone hut circles built by farmers and herders, early medieval monastic shrines and monuments, and post-medieval historic village and field systems (AD 1750–1960). Unlike Inishbofin, no people reside on the island today. Due to prolonged economic hardship, emigration and decades-long infrastructural neglect by first British and then Irish governing bodies, the population declined steadily through the early and mid-twentieth century until Inishark’s islanders were forced to leave home in October, 1960.

Our team has conducted archaeological excavations and survey, ethnographic research, oral history interviews, and archival analysis of Valuation, census, and parish records on Inishark since 2008.

For more information, please follow these links:

Film: Concannon, Kieran (director), Inis Airc: Bás oileáin [Inishark: Death of an Island] (TG4, 2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmXb2sIFJuY&t=2s (5 parts)

Film: Kuijt, Ian and William Donaruma (directors), Nets of Memory / Líonta na Cuimhne (Walkabout Productions, 2019, 60 minutes)

Film: Kuijt, Ian and William Donaruma (directors), Coastal Ireland: Heritage and Place: https://www.youtube.com/@coastalirelandheritageandp1899

View of Inishark’s post-medieval village (Image © CLIC Project)

View of Inishark’s post-medieval village (Image © CLIC Project)