Inishbiggle

Inishbiggle (Inis Bigil in Irish) is a small inhabited island off the coast of Ballycroy in Co. Mayo. Its name in Irish means "Vigil Island"

Inishbiggle
Native name:
Inis Bigil
Inishbiggle
Geography
LocationAtlantic Ocean
Coordinates53°59′45″N 9°54′15″W
Administration
ProvinceConnacht
CountyMayo
Demographics
Population18

Geography

The island is situated between the northeast of Achill Island and the mainland, and is accessed by boat from either Doran's point at Ballycroy or Bullsmouth, Dooniver on Achill Island. The island is 2½ km x 1½ km, or 650 acres (2.6 km2) in area.

Description

The main activities are sheep and cattle farming, fishing and winkle picking. Facilities on the island included a school and a post office, both now closed. Plans to build a cable-car link across the very dangerous Bullsmouth Channel, one of the strongest currents in Europe separating the island from Achill had been under discussion since 1996, but have now been abandoned due to the high cost and the money was given towards the Achill bridge redevelopment. Unpredictable currents in the channel during winter months can render the island inaccessible, even though the passage during fair weather is about ten minutes in the traditional boat, the currach. Emergency access is by helicopter.

The population is now down to a few dozen, almost all elderly.

Transport

Plans to build a cable-car link across the very dangerous Bullsmouth Channel, one of the strongest currents in Europe separating the island from Achill had been under discussion since 1996, but have now been abandoned due to the high cost and the money was given towards the Achill bridge redevelopment. Planning permission for the cablecar was denied by Mayo county council on the grounds that "It would be visually obtrusive in an area of special scenic importance, that it would create traffic problems and that it would devalue houses in the vicinity."[1]

Demographics

The table below reports data on Inishbiggle's population taken from Discover the Islands of Ireland (Alex Ritsema, Collins Press, 1999) and the Census of Ireland.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
184167—    
185161−9.0%
18610−100.0%
1871154—    
1881171+11.0%
1891135−21.1%
1901135+0.0%
1911149+10.4%
1926162+8.7%
YearPop.±%
1936157−3.1%
1946106−32.5%
1951123+16.0%
1956116−5.7%
1961113−2.6%
1966103−8.8%
1971112+8.7%
197997−13.4%
198189−8.2%
YearPop.±%
198669−22.5%
199151−26.1%
199648−5.9%
200239−18.8%
200624−38.5%
2011 25+4.2%
2016 18[2]−28.0%
Source: Central Statistics Office. "CNA17: Population by Off Shore Island, Sex and Year". irishislands.info. Retrieved October 12, 2016.

See also

References
  1. Cable Car Battle On Isolated Inishbiggle Continues 1997
  2. [https://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=E2021&PLanguage=0 E2021: Population of Inhabited Islands Off the Coast 2011 to 2016 by Sex, Islands and CensusYear ]


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