Lockdown Interlude

This long break gave me a good opportunity to talk about (and visit a few more, that I had missed earlier) the ISLANDS I've been to as part of this Coastal Run - all reached without getting on a boat, I should add!

The islands of Ulster  (see other blogs for more detail about each island) : During my coastal run I developed a peculiar interest in the islands around our shores especially those you can reach at low tide. 

My sons Matthew and Brian on Mid Island, Co. Down

Sunday Morning Group: Sunrise at ancient Nendrum on Mahee Island, Co. Down

The islands I ran (or walked) around were as follows:

·    Sketrick Island, Co. Down: Yes not much of an island but it has a pub, called Daft Eddies which Helen, Sean and I we were very glad to visit on a warm June day (See Stage 5)

·    Reagh & Mahee Islands, Co. Down: I reached these islands on a cold but beautiful December morning with a group of my Sunday Morning runners (See Stage 5)

·    Island Hill, Co. Down: Brian (his first island) and I walked across the causeway on a mild November day (See Stage 6)

·    Gores Island, Co. Down:  Another causeway that Brian and I circled on a brisk November  afternoon (See Stage 5)

·    Mid Island, South Island and Chapel Island, Co. Down: Brian and I were joined by one of my other sons, Matthew on a beautiful May morning (See Stage 6)

·    Inch Island, Co. Donegal: My friend Johnny McGrath joined me in running around this large island on a mild January morning  (See Stage 19)

·    Island Roy, Co. Donegal: Did this one on my own on the Rosguill peninsula on a nice October morning  (See Stage 24)

·    Cruit Island, Co. Donegal: Another one I did on my own on a mild March day  (See Stage 28)

·    Inish Caoil, Co. Donegal: I did this tidal island after arriving in Portnoo with Valerie & Philip McDonough on a nice May afternoon (See Stage 31)

• Ernan’s Island: This was just outside Donegal town and I arrived there on a lovely September evening. (See Stage 38)
• Oilean na Marbh (the island of the dead), Co. Donegal. Maureen and Brian joined me on a showery December afternoon (See Stage 28)

And these two below (Gibbs Island and Friend Island) which is maybe pushing it too far, in calling them islands

·    Gibbs Island, just south of Killyleagh, Co. Down: My sons Daniel and Brian joined me on a sunny December day.  Sunday 20th December 2020: Gibbs Island: Back in June 2017 when we did Stage 5 we should really have gone down Island Road (300 metres south of Delamont) from the main Downpatrick road. We could have covered Gibbs Island and then stayed on the coast to Delamont. Anyway, this was probably one of the smallest islands I’ve circled and it’s also quite a safe island to get to, almost always accessible except maybe at a very high tide. I deliberately waited to visit this island until my son Daniel was home. We took a circular route to the island, first going up to see the tall megalith stone. From the megalith there is a lovely view across Strangford Lough and down to the Mournes. There’s also a perfect view of the tree covered Gibbs Island where we were heading. 

Brian pointing out Gibbs Island, Strangford Lough, Co. Down.

We then joined the coastal path, keeping the sea on our left and after a while we climbed over a stone wall. This section is quite muddy but Daniel, Brian and I were well prepared. There’s a causeway across to the island, a small forest in the middle and a convenient grassy path around the island. We saw cows quietly grazing and all around us we could see a scattering of waterfowl making quite a lot of noise. I didn’t recognise the various wildlife species but apparently at this time of the year the following ducks and birds can be seen; teal, wigeon, redshank, greenshank, jackdaws and rooks. I’m no expert but there’s one bird and sound I do recognise and that’s the lonely cry of the curlew! At the back of the island it was a lot quieter. There’s a small wooden bench which was the perfect place for our picnic, looking across at the other islands spread over Strangford.

Daniel and Brian having picnic on Gibbs Island

We could clearly see Gores Island which is another tidal island where Brian and I had walked around back in November 2019. We could even see the causeway to that island slowly fading away as the tide was coming in. On this side of Strangford Lough we finished our picnic and left Gibbs Island as the winter sun was disappearing. 

·    Friend Island, just west of Groomsport, Co. Down: I've been to this 'island' many's a time as it's within walking distance from my home in Bangor. Saturday 9th May 2020 and other times too: Friend Island:I don’t think you’ll find any reference to this anywhere and it's probably going too far in calling this an island as it’s so small and so close to the shore. However it is surrounded by water for most of the time. It lies just west of Groomsport and I was always aware it was there as I often ran along that coastal path from Ballyholme beach.  I used to call it the ‘sandy island’ as it has a lovely silver beach that shines as it catches the sun; but then I saw a wooden sign on the Groomsport side saying ‘Friend Island.’

Brian with Friend Island behind

If you’re running (or walking) from Ballyholme to Groomsport along the coastal path, the nicest way to approach it (at low tide of course!) it is to take a left turn by the coast at about the half way point. Follow this rougher outer coastal path and it will eventually take you across some stepping stones to Friend Island. During the first lockdown (March to June 2020) the weather was so lovely and dry and I often ran (or walked with Brian) to the island. Then on 9^th May 2020, when our older boys were home, Maureen and I decided to get up at 4.00am and watch the sunrise. This was in support of the ‘Darkness into Light’ campaign (which helps raise awareness of suicide and self harm) and has been held all over Ireland since 2009. This year, like a lot of other things, it was a virtual event. So, at the crack of dawn, Maureen and I walked down to Ballyholme beach and then along an outer coastal path towards Groomsport.  At first as it was slightly cloudy we couldn’t see any sunrise. However, just as we arrived on the island we could see the sun slowly coming up over Groomsport. It was definitely worth getting up to see!       

   Then there were a few other small islands that I couldn’t get to for various reasons – mostly because they seemed to be in private ownership. 

·       Castle Island West, just north of Killyleagh, Co. Down: Brian and I drove to Ringhaddy Pier and began to walk along a lane heading north to the island. A scary barking dog stopped us in our tracks and then a couple came out of their house explaining politely that we would need some kind of code or key from the National Trust to access Castle Island. We never went back!

·       Hare Island, just south of Killyleagh, Co. Down: Brian and I tried to reach this island from both sides of Strangford Lough. From the east side we tried to access it from Castle Island (east) road. We could only get as far as Quoile Yacht Club where there were ‘no entry’ signs. Then from the west side there didn’t seem to be any road or lane to Hare Island. We also tried walking from Gibbs Island but it got quite rough and it looked as if you would have to go through someone’s back garden to reach it!  

·       Rolly Island and Cross Island, east of Comber, Co. Down: I passed near these islands (See Stage 6) with my Sunday Morning Running Group as the winter sun was coming up over Strangford Lough. We were on our way to Mahee Island and ancient Nendrum. Both these islands were clearly marked ‘Private’. 

·       Feehary Island, Shamrock Island and Conly Island, just south of Whiterock, Co. Down: There was a narrow lane up a hill leading towards Feehary island but again there were ‘Private Road’ signs along the way. It looked like Shamrock Island and Conly Island could be reached at low tide but you would have to access another private lane and probably walk across some muddy fields after that. We didn’t get to any of these three islands.

·       Guns Island, north of Ardglass, Co. Down: I passed this island twice, once with Helen and Sean and then again at low tide on a nice summers day with my son, Brian. Even at low tide this didn’t look accessible at all and there was no causeway to the island. Brian and I definitely didn’t want to risk it. (See Stage 4)

Brian and I at low tide with Guns Island behind

·       Inishinny Island, Carrickfin, Co. Donegal: I dragged Maureen and Brian back here on a fairly miserable December day. This island is right at the top of Carrickfin peninsula and to the east of the more famous Gola Island (Dimigh go Gabhla). At low tide there was a great expanse of sand from the mainland so we made our way across. However just before we reached Inishinny itself there was a wide channel of water which made it impossible to reach the island. (See also Stage 28)

·       Island Ravedy, Melmore Head, Co. Donegal: This is one that got away! I had planned to go back at low tide but with so many restrictions and lockdowns I never made back to NW Donegal. It doesn't look as if there's any road or lane to this island so I’m not sure if I could have made it there anyway. I did read that there is a Lighthouse on the island and that you should be careful crossing as the tide can cover the causeway very quickly.         

Anyway, that's just a summary above of all the wee ISLANDS I've been to over the last few years as part of this Coastal Run. 

If you are thinking of joining me or want more information please email me on gerryoboyle@outlook.com or ring/text me on 00 44 (0) 7725613308.