Owey Island

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

Owey Island

Native name: Uaigh
Owey Island
Geography
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	55.0547°N 8.4508°W / 55.0547; -8.4508
Area	1.214 km2 (0.469 sq mi)
Highest elevation	102 m (335 ft)
Highest point	Moylemore
Administration
Ireland
Province	Ulster
County	Donegal
Demographics
Population	0 (lived in seasonally) (2021)

Geography

The island is around 120 hectares (300 acres)^[3] in area. It lies off the Donegal coast near Kincasslagh.^[2] The island's highest hill, Moylemore, has a summit elevation of 102 m.^[4] The buildings of the island are located on its southern part, the northern part being rocky and exposed to winds. On Owey there is no mains electricity or public water supply.

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1841 94 —     1851 118 +25.5% 1861 127 +7.6% 1871 130 +2.4% 1881 141 +8.5% 1891 139 −1.4% 1901 137 −1.4% 1911 152 +10.9%	Year Pop. ±% 1926 143 −5.9% 1936 125 −12.6% 1946 105 −16.0% 1951 106 +1.0% 1956 99 −6.6% 1961 95 −4.0% 1966 76 −20.0% 1971 51 −32.9%	Year Pop. ±% 1979 0 −100.0% 1981 0 0.00% 1986 0 0.00% 1991 0 0.00% 1996 0 0.00% 2002 0 0.00% 2006 27 —     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 had only 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 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.

See also

• List of islands of Ireland