Clare Island Ferries

Clare Island Ferries

The Clare Island Ferry Company is owned and operated by the O'Grady family, natives of Clare Island, who have been operating the Clare Island Mail Boat Ferry service since 1880.

Their ferry, the “Pirate Queen”, is named after the infamous 16th century pirate queen, Grace O' Malley (Granuaile). She lived in a castle by the harbour on Clare Island during the course of her life as a “ chief commander and director of thieves and murderers at sea”. The pirate flag flies from the ferry in her honour.

The “Pirate Queen”, which is the most modern ferry operating to Clare Island and Inisturk, is registered with the Department of the Marine and Failte Ireland and has a certificate for 96 passengers and 4 crew members. Passengers may sit inside the heated lounge area, or sit on the upper sun deck and enjoy the panoramic view of the Clew Bay coastline.

The O'Grady's also operate a smaller ferry boat, the “Very Likely”, which caters for 12 passengers and 2 crew. This boat may be chartered for small groups for sightseeing trips around Clare Island or trips to other islands such as Inishturk or Achill. The Very Likely
The "Clew Bay Queen" is the largest ferry operating to Clare Island and Inisturk. It has a certificate to carry 96 passengers during summer. She also operates a cargo service from Roonagh to Clare Island and Inisturk twice a week, year round.

The cruise from Roonagh Quay (west of Louisburgh) to Clare Island takes just 15 minutes.
The journey gives you enough time to view and photograph a most spectacular coastline which includes Achill Island, the Nephin mountain range, the islands of Clew Bay, Croagh Patrick (Ireland's famous pilgrimage mountain) and Inishturk.

Review

Clare Island Ferries is a similar story to the O'Brien Line in Co. Clare. A family run business that for decades has been ferrying people over to Clare Island. This is a very much needed service not only on a tourism level but on a survival level as Clare Island Ferries are responsible for taking much needed provisions and supplies to the just over hundred residents that live on there. One of Clare Islands residents was the famous Irish pirate Grainne O'Malley and the ruins of her family castle can still be seen there today at the eastern end of the Island. There are so many things to see on the Island from a small Cistercian Abbey to the Clare Island Lighthouse. Although great to visit for the day, I would have to say you really need to stay here for a couple of days to see everything.