Oileáin
Oileáin is an evolving guide to the Irish islands written by David Walsh.
Latest News. Oileáin has continued to grow since its publication as a book in June 2004, and now as of 28th November 2009 includes 514 islands. My thanks this time for an extraordinary batch of information from a Donegal climber Iain Miller of Annagry who specialises in the new adventure sport of "coastaleering". This activity at its heart is the enjoyment through climbing (N. B. not exclusively rock climbing, but climbing whatever is there) of the more adventurous and difficult parts of the coast. Not a new activity as such, but suddenly taken to new heights this century in Donegal. Imagine scrambling to the foot of the Sturral ridge, and then imagine climbing the ridge! Then think of all those majestic sea stacks 500 feet high, the ascent of which is unthinkable ? Well think again. Enjoy the Slievetooey coastline, Owey of course, the lighthouse area of Aranmore,and Tory. The most recent inclusion is one such tower, Torhonadoogha a couple of miles south of Bloody Foreland, on the mainland immediately inside Inishsirrer. Oileáin also deals with parts of 10 of the 15 mainland coastal counties.
"Oileáin" as it appears on your local
bookshelf.
To purchase a signed copy of
"Oileáin" from this site at a cost 24 euro (plus P&P), just click Purchase
"Oileáin".
Oileáin the printed book is in full
colour, printed to a very high standard.
Colour photographs and
maps throughout.
Browse and/or download (cut and paste) the text version (always right up to date, the current version having been uploaded as of 28th November 2009), but no maps, no colour, no photos - "Oileáin"
Link for Irish Sea Kayaking Association Irish Sea Kayaking Association
Recommended kayak excursions on the Irish coast Recommended Excursions by kayakOther useful links and contacts Links
Photographs from some 2004 trips by ISKA members Scattery Island Roancarrigbeg Wreck Inishkea Islands
Irish Marine Weather Forecasts from Met Eireann Sea Area Forecast Sea Area Forecast
Irish Tide Times (add 1 hour in summertime) Tidal Information Tidal Information
I have compiled a list of many remoter, harder Irish
offshore islands and rocks,
and on which, which kayakers are thought
at present to have landed there "first".
This hopes to reflect in an
obscure way an interesting insight into a small part of
what Irish sea
kayakers were at in the late 20th century. First Known Kayak
Landings
Books and Further Reading on Irish islands and
Irish sea kayaking. These include source material for Oileáin. Source
Material
"Oileáin" deals with landings on islands, camping spots,
availability of drinking water, tidal streams, history or natural history
where known or researched, birds and wildlife as available, and general
information. It is intended to be similar in purpose to a nautical Pilot
or Sailing Directions, but dedicated to sea kayaks and other very small
craft, with a lot of extras.
"Oileáin" is an Irish word meaning
"islands", and is pronounced roughly "ill-aw-in".
As of December
2005, there were 335 islands touched on (the most recent of which are the
Sovereign Islands, for which thanks to the Pirate Queen, a.k.a. our own
Eileen Murphy who took time out on her recent circumnavigation of Ireland
to present this info to Oileáin. Also dealt with are the mainland coasts
(to some degree) of 9 of the 15 coastal counties (Derry, Antrim, Down,
Louth, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway,
Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal).