Omey Island

Omey Iceland (Irish IOMAI ) is a nearly square tidal island with a lake in the middle. It is located near Clifden and High Iceland, west of Connemara in County Galway, in Ireland. At low tide it is possible to get on a path marked by a wide sandy beach on the island.

St. Feichin of Sligo, who founded several abbeys, including those on high Iceland (which archaeological investigations but time not confirmed), to the monastery founded on Omey and died here 664 AD. In the 1990s, a team of archaeologists examined the monastic heritage of the island. The excavation yielded insights into the early monastic life. On the monastic cemetery was one of only a few female burials. In the early 16th century, here the O'Tooles of Leinster have settled under the protection of the O'Flaherty clan, but lost the island at the time of Oliver Cromwell to the D' Arcy's and the Browns. In the early 19th century, the districts Cloon and Sturrakeen belonged to the Martins of Ballynahinch, while Cartoorbeg, Gooteen and Gooreenatinny belonged to the D' Arcy of Clifden.

Although you can get over the sandbar to the island, the lack of a solid compound and a school meant to depopulate Omey. The population has drastically decreased since the early 19th century, when there lived hundreds of people. In 1988 there were only three households here. The only full-time residents was former stuntman and Ringer Pascal Whelan.

The island remained a place of worship of the Holy Feichin with a sacred spring and the old church.

John MacNeice (1866-1942), Bishop of the Church of Ireland and is known for his opposition to the Ulster Covenant, was born on Omey and raised.