The Islands:
Arranmore Island
(Árainn Mhór in Irish) is the largest inhabited island in County Donegal, and the second largest in all of Ireland, with a population of about 500 plus. It is also known in English as Aran Island. In Irish the island was traditionally called Árainn the adjective mór (great) was added fairly recently.The island lies 3 miles off Burtonport and a ferry, that accommodates up to 128 foot passengers and all sizes of vehicles, runs daily all year. The trip to the island affords spectacular views and takes between 25-30 minutes passing a number of small islands before crossing a stretch of open Atlantic water. Most of the population lives along the southern and (comparatively sheltered) eastern coast. It has been settled since pre-Celtic times, and the few remaining signs of early settlement include a promontory fort to the south of the island and shell middens dotted along the beaches. Its position near the Atlantic shipping lanes was exploited, with a coastguard station and a lighthouse positioned on the most north-westerly point, and a World War 2 monitoring post set up to look out for U-Boats.Inishbofin
(Inis Bo Finne in Irish, meaning Island of the White Cow) is an island off the northwestern coast of Donegal, Ireland. It is a 120-hectare (300-acre) land mass long known as a fishing and farming village, a place where countless generations of inhabitants -current population numbers around 16 - have spoken Irish. There are no pubs or shops on the island. There is a boat service to and from it but no regular-running ferry.Rutland
(Irish: Inis Mhic an Doirn) is an island in County Donegal, and an electoral and census reporting district covering it, surrounding islands and part of the mainland. The island itself has no permanent inhabitants, but the district, which includes Burtonport and its environs, had 1,428 residents in 2006. The island lies between Burtonport and the inhabited Arranmore Island, and is not officially served by ferry.
Tory Island
(Irish; Oileán Thoraigh, island of the tower), is an island 12 km off the north-west coast of County Donega. It is approximately 5 km (3 miles) long and 1 km (0.75 miles) wide. Since the 1950s, the island has been home to a small community of artists, and has its own art gallery. The English artist Derek Hill is associated with the Tory artist community. One of the artists is Patsaí Dan Mac Ruairí, who holds the position of Rí Thoraí (King of Tory). This King has no formal power, but is chosen by consensus of the islanders to represent the community.