Owey Island

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Owey Island
Native name:
Uaigh
Owey Island - Abandoned and summer homes - geograph.org.uk - 1168458.jpg
Owey Island is located in island of Ireland
Owey Island
Owey Island
Geography
LocationAtlantic Ocean
Coordinates55°03′17″N 8°27′03″W / 55.0547°N 8.4508°W / 55.0547; -8.4508Coordinates: 55°03′17″N 8°27′03″W / 55.0547°N 8.4508°W / 55.0547; -8.4508
Area1.214 km2 (0.469 sq mi)
Highest elevation102 m (335 ft)
Highest pointMoylemore
Administration
Ireland
ProvinceUlster
CountyDonegal
Demographics
Population0 (lived in seasonally) (2021)

Owey Island (Irish: Uaigh, meaning 'Cave' [1][2]) is an island off the coast of west County Donegal, Ireland.

Geography[]

The island is around 300 acres[3] (1.2 square kilometres) in area. It lies off the Donegal coast near Kincasslagh.[2] The island's highest hill, Moylemore, is at 102 m.[4] The buildings of the island are located on its southern part, being the northern one rocky and exposed to winds. On Owey there is no mains electricity or public water supply.

Demographics[]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
184194—    
1851118+25.5%
1861127+7.6%
1871130+2.4%
1881141+8.5%
1891139−1.4%
1901137−1.4%
1911152+10.9%
YearPop.±%
1926143−5.9%
1936125−12.6%
1946105−16.0%
1951106+1.0%
195699−6.6%
196195−4.0%
196676−20.0%
197151−32.9%
YearPop.±%
19790−100.0%
198100.00%
198600.00%
199100.00%
199600.00%
200200.00%
200627—    
2011 0−100.0%
Source: Central Statistics Office. "CNA17: Population by Off Shore Island, Sex and Year". CSO.ie. Retrieved 12 October 2016.

The table reports data taken from Discover the Islands of Ireland (Alex Ritsema, Collins Press, 1999) and the Census of Ireland. Owey Island was full-time inhabited up to the mid 1970s. Later on it only had part-time residents, mainly at summer. Most of them own old cottages inherited by ancestors who used to permanently live in the island.

History[]

Abandoned schoolhouse; the new house at the right appears to be in use seasonally
Overall view from the neighbouring Cruit Island

Plenty of fish in the waters surrounding the island and the land that, fertilized with seaweed, was suitable for growing vegetables, allowed a simple lifestyle to more than 100 people. Turf was used to heat the homes; some of the islanders used it also to heat the equipment to produce single malt and liquors.[2]

In 1940 a farmer from the island spotted a lifeboat from the Arandora star and picked it up[citation needed]

In the olden days Owey had a post office and a school, which closed in 1971; its remains are still there. It had just one teacher in charge of the primary education of all ages, while for their secondary education children had to be sent to the mainland.

3 Germans from a u-boat landed on the island in the First World War and were spotted by some kids the Germans marched up Main Street and turned and were never seen again[citation needed]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Uaigh". Placenames Database of Ireland. Dublin City University. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Donegal Islands – OWEY". www.welovedonegal.com. WeLoveDonegal. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Owey Island, County Donegal, Ireland". www.inyourfootsteps.com. Inyourfootsteps.com UK Ltd. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Donegal NW Area – Moylemore (Owey Island) Hill". MountainViews. Ordnance Survey Ireland. Retrieved 27 April 2015.

External links[]

Media related to Owey Island at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from ""