The Aran Islands

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The Aran Islands

• History and Landscape

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Here, on the very edge of Europe, is an Island
rich in the language, culture and heritage of
Ireland, unique in its geology and archaeology
and in its long tradition of gentle hospitality.
Here is a place to sense the spirit of Gaelic
Ireland, to touch the past, but with all the
comforts and facilities of the present. Aran will
take you back to an Ireland of Celts and Early
Christians. This is an island of great peace and
tranquility, but it is also an island of great
fun and activity.
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A timeless land in an endless sea, weathered
monuments on awesome cliffs, great labyrinths of
limestone, meandering walls, patchwork fields,
quiet beaches and a welcoming island people, this
is Aran in Galway bay on the west coast of
Ireland...
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Facts

• The Aran Islands consist of three Islands
• Inishmore (or Inis Mórin in Irish)
• Inishmaan (Inis Meánin the middle island)
• Inishere (Inis Óirr the south island)

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The Aran Islands

• Located just off the coast of western Ireland
• About 40 kilometers of Galway
• Area of 47 square kilometers
• 1000 inhabitants

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I R E L A N D
Galway
Galway Bay
The Arans
The Western Island
Inishmore
Inishmaan
Inishere

• Galway Bay and the Aran Islands from space. Image
  courtesy Jacques Descloitres, NASA GSFC

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Inishmore

• Inishmore is the largest of the three islands
• Capital of the Arans
• Its principle village is Kilronan
• The most famous site is the great stone fortress
  of Dun Aonghasa

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Fort Dun Aonghasa
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Dun Aonghasa (Fort of Angus)

• largest and most famous of the forts on the Arans
  
• on the edge (100m) of a
• cliff falling into the
• Atlantic Ocean

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Inishmaan

• Contains lots of monuments
• Ancient churches
• 15th century temples
• Prehistoric times represented by a large stone
  fort

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Inishere

• Smallest of the three islands
• Only 300 inhabitants

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History (geology)

• Formed 350 million years ago
• Dead marine life forms pressure create various
  layers (strata) of limestone

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• Biggest influence most recent Ice Age
• ice shaped landscape
• Soil was eroded entirely by wind and rain,
• Later by farming practices

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Curious phenomenon

• Puffling holes
• a cave, created by waves under the
  rock causes

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Puffling hole
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History Settlers (2)

• Winds erode most of the land
• Islanders create new soil (film) out of beach
  sand, seaweed, fish meal, manure (Dünger)
• Potatoes and other vegetables
• Living conditions are hard people are poor

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History (3)

• When Ireland converts to Christianity
• Several Churches and monasteries are built
• English Empire (Cromwell) plunders several forts
  on Inishmore in the late 17th century
• Later islands stay untouched

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Today

• Settlers still fishermen and farmers
• Tourism brings money 250,000 visitors each year
• Government and European Community help with funds
• Islanders are members in global community
• and
• preserve their own cultural heritage

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Materials

• sources
• http//www.historychannel.com/exhibits/stpatricksd
  ay/
• http//www.irlandfan.de/history.htm
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aran_Islands
• http//www.galway.net
• http//www.radford.edu/eurotrails/Aran_Islands_Day
  
• http//www.apricot.com/jimcat/pictures/aranislands
  

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