The Aran Islands: island economies and Gaelic craftsmanship

Leaving the quays of Galway City, a direct ferry takes you to the Aran Islands in ninety minutes. Here, on wind-swept platforms of Carboniferous limestone, the Gaelic language is still the primary language of everyday life. Inis Mór, the largest of the three islands, is a dense network of dry stone walls and small farmsteads, easily explored by bicycle. On its cliffs, a hundred metres above the ocean, stands the protohistoric site of Dún Aonghasa. The island’s economy is shifting towards integrated tourism, as demonstrated by the Aran Island Goats Cheese and Food Tours, which allow visitors to discover local cheese-making first-hand alongside the producers. The neighbouring Inis Meáin, the middle island, has retained an even lower level of human impact, linking its name to a world-class manufacturer: the Inis Meáin Knitting Company. In this textile workshop, which can be visited by appointment, the traditional patterns of Aran sweaters – once devised by fishing families to withstand the oceanic climate – are reinterpreted using fine yarns such as cashmere, alpaca, linen and fine merino wool. Connections between the islands are provided by local ferries and the small aircraft of Aer Arann Islands. During the summer season, the return crossing to Galway offers an unusual vantage point: the afternoon route runs alongside the stretch of sea in front of the majestic Cliffs of Moher, allowing you to observe the geomorphology of the great rock face directly from sea level. For accommodation, you can choose between the eco-friendly glamping pods at Aran Island Camping & Glamping on Inis Mór or the cosy, family-run guesthouses on Inis Meáin.