Saint MacDara’s Island Barney R. McLaughlin Saint Mac Dara’s island lies off the coast of south Galway. It is also known as Oilean Mhic Dara and Cruach na Cara. The island lies about 2.5 kilometers or 1.55 miles off the coast and is about 22 hectares or 60 acres in size. The island is uninhabited and has a rugged landscape. It is best known for the archaeological remains, especially of the small monastery established in the sixth century by Saint Mac Dara, after whom the island takes its name. For several years I had the goal of visiting Saint Mac Dara’s island to view and photograph the high crosses located there. The island is not a regular tourist site and options for getting there are limited. The time of year that most people, largely locals, visit the island is on Saint Mac Dara’s festival day, July 16. In the summer of 2023 I was able to arrange for a boat trip to the island with Roundstone bay and island boat and food tours. My captain was Damien O Malley, a fourth generation fisherman and Roundstone local. His boat, the Benbaun is sixteen feet long and most of his tours are of Roundstone Bay and the beautiful beaches available there. He agreed to take me to Saint Mac Dara’s island and with a light wind blowing in from the west, the boat rolled left and right once we left the shelter of the western shore. We arrived safely and it was a wonderful adventure. I was able to explore the church and the crosses on the island. The photo of Damien’s boat above was sourced from his website. (Damien) Page of 1 12