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eOceanic has been made aware of this haven. We are looking for a sailor with first-hand experience to provide their direct personal insights so that we may complete our write up. In advance of this we have posted these preliminary research notes. Do you know this location? Please contact us or click the 'Report a Mistake or Omission' button below to help share this location with the sailing community.


Inishsirrer Island is situated in the North Atlantic off the northwest coast of Ireland about 3 miles south of Bloody Foreland. The small and remote island offers an anchorage in tranquil and secluded surroundings with a possible landing at the island's jetty.

Inishsirrer Island is situated in the North Atlantic off the northwest coast of Ireland about 3 miles south of Bloody Foreland. The small and remote island offers an anchorage in tranquil and secluded surroundings with a possible landing at the island's jetty.

Protected by the island on the west and a drying bank to the east the anchorage affords good shelter in all conditions except those with northerly quadrants. Access from the north is unimpeded and straightforward when unaffected by weather or tidal conditions.
Please note

Caution is necessary in the Inishsirrer Strait passage in strong onshore winds or a heavy swell.




2 comments
Keyfacts for Inishsirrer Island
Facilities
Slipway available


Nature
Remote or quiet secluded locationJetty or a structure to assist landingQuick and easy access from open waterScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
None listed

Protected sectors

Current wind over the protected quadrants
Minimum depth
3 metres (9.84 feet).

Approaches
4 stars: Straightforward; when unaffected by weather from difficult quadrants or tidal consideration, no overly complex dangers.
Shelter
4 stars: Good; assured night's sleep except from specific quarters.



Last modified
May 30th 2017

Summary

A good location with straightforward access.

Facilities
Slipway available


Nature
Remote or quiet secluded locationJetty or a structure to assist landingQuick and easy access from open waterScenic location or scenic location in the immediate vicinity

Considerations
None listed



Position and approaches
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Haven position

55° 6.891' N, 008° 19.550' W

This is the position at the anchorage at Inishsirrer Island.

What is the initial fix?

The following Inishsirrer Island initial fix. will set up a final approach:
55° 8.435' N, 008° 19.665' W
this is the position in the North Atlantic Ocean midway between Bloody Foreland and Inishsirrer.



Not what you need?
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Inishsirrer Island for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
  1. Gola Island - 1.8 nautical miles SW
  2. Bunbeg - 3.5 nautical miles S
  3. Owey Island - 5.4 nautical miles SW
  4. Cruit Bay - 5.5 nautical miles SSW
  5. Toberglassan Bay - 6.5 nautical miles NE
  6. Burtonport - 8.9 nautical miles SSW
  7. Rutland Harbour & Island - 9.1 nautical miles SSW
  8. Tory Island - 9.5 nautical miles NNE
  9. Arranmore Island - 9.6 nautical miles SW
  10. Tramore Bay - 10.9 nautical miles ENE
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
  1. Gola Island - 1.8 miles SW
  2. Bunbeg - 3.5 miles S
  3. Owey Island - 5.4 miles SW
  4. Cruit Bay - 5.5 miles SSW
  5. Toberglassan Bay - 6.5 miles NE
  6. Burtonport - 8.9 miles SSW
  7. Rutland Harbour & Island - 9.1 miles SSW
  8. Tory Island - 9.5 miles NNE
  9. Arranmore Island - 9.6 miles SW
  10. Tramore Bay - 10.9 miles ENE
To find locations with the specific attributes you need try:

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Chart
Please use our integrated Navionics chart to appraise the haven and its approaches. Navionics charts feature in premier plotters from B&G, Raymarine, Magellan and are also available on tablets. Open the chart in a larger viewing area by clicking the expand to 'new tab' or the 'full screen' option.

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How to get in?
Route location The 'Erris Head to Malin Head' coastal description provides approach information to the suggested initial fix. Vessels approaching from the south should select the northeast bound Route location sequenced description; vessels approaching from the north should select the southwest bound Route location sequence; western approaches may use either description.

Inishsirrer Island, Irish : Inis Oirthear meaning “island of the east”, is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, and is the farthest north of a line of islands stretching from Aranmore Island to Bloody Foreland.

It is a long narrow island approximately 1 mile long and 0.25 mile wide, and is located 1 mile off the coast of Gweedore and 4.5 miles northwest of Bunbeg, and to the north of Gola and Inishmeane Islands, in County Donegal, on the northwest coast of Ireland.

Between Aranmore Island and Bloody Foreland, the 12 miles of coast presents a barren sandy aspect. It is fronted by islands and dangerous offshore rocks which should be approached with great caution particularly at night or in hazy visibility.

Inishsirrer Strait between the southeast end of the island and Glashagh Point on the mainland is a safe and simple passage except in strong onshore winds or a heavy swell. From the north it is the shortest and most sheltered route to Gweedore Bay after rounding Bloody Foreland.

Haven location At the the southeast end of the island there is a good anchorage facing northeast in a crescent shaped bay abreast of the Kelp Store in 3 metres depth with a sand bottom, which is sheltered from west northwest through south to east northeast, or if you want to go further into the bay steer south of here and anchor in a depth of 1 to 2 metres.



The access to the bay is straightforward and the anchorage is in the centre of the small bay to the east of the jetty.



Although they are occasionally used by fishermen the jetty and slipway are available for a dinghy landing to afford a walk across the island.







Why visit here?
As well as offering a beautiful cruising ground, the islands between Aranmore and Bloody Foreland provide fascinating social and historical insights. There was mass emigration during the 1960’s and 70’s and the Islands were deserted at that time. The Island has now become a holiday destination due to the work of the Donegal Small Islands Co-Operative.

Today, Inishsirrer is a refuge for wildlife, and the village which is located southeast of the middle of the island has just a few houses that are only occupied in the summer months.

Inishsirrer is a most attractive island which has a lake in the centre whose water is brackish but does contain good cockles. A walk along the old paths and field boundaries to the automated lighthouse located at the western tip of the island is well worth the effort, as this end of the island has an oceanic feel to it. At the southeastern end of the island a boulder strewn spit juts out eastwards ending at a prominent rock, Damph More, which forms the southern part of the crescent of the anchorage bay.

There are no facilities on this island, but it makes a delightful stop on the coastal passage, with the possibility of getting off the boat and having a pleasant stroll.


What facilities are available?
There are no facilities at this location.


With thanks to:
inyourfootsteps.com site research. Photography with thanks to Joseph and Sue Mischyshyn, Donald McDonald.












A photograph is worth a thousand words. We are always looking for bright sunny photographs that show this haven and its identifiable features at its best. If you have some images that we could use please upload them here. All we need to know is how you would like to be credited for your work and a brief description of the image if it is not readily apparent. If you would like us to add a hyperlink from the image that goes back to your site please include the desired link and we will be delighted to that for you.


Add your review or comment:


Iain Miller wrote this review on Oct 12th 2017:

A guide to the Inishsirrer and a collection of pictures http://uniqueascent.ie/inishsirrer

Average Rating: Unrated


Iain Miller wrote this review on Oct 19th 2017:

A guide to the Inishsirrer and a collection of pictures http://uniqueascent.ie/inishsirrer

Average Rating: Unrated

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Please note eOceanic makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this haven and do not have first-hand experience to qualify the data. Although the contributors are vetted by peer review as practised authorities, they are in no way, whatsoever, responsible for the accuracy of their contributions. It is essential that you thoroughly check the accuracy and suitability for your vessel of any waypoints offered in any context plus the precision of your GPS. Any data provided on this page is entirely used at your own risk and you must read our legal page if you view data on this site. Free to use sea charts courtesy of Navionics.