Tearaght Island

Coordinates: 52°4.541′N 10°39.677′W / 52.075683°N 10.661283°W[1]

an Tiaracht

an Tiaracht seen from Inis Tuaisceart
Elevation 200 m (660 ft)
Prominence 200 m (660 ft)
Listing Marilyn
Location
Location County Kerry, Ireland
OSI/OSNI grid V178949

Tearaght Island or Inishtearaght[1] (Irish: an Tiaracht)[2] is an uninhabited steep rocky island west of the Dingle Peninsula. At longitude 10° 39.7' Tearaght is the westernmost of the Blasket Islands, and thus the westernmost island in both Ireland and the British Isles. However, there are some exposed rocks further west: Tearaght Rocks, Tearaght Rocks West (10° 41.0'), and Foze Rocks (10° 41.3').[3][4]

An Tiaracht is about a kilometre from east to west, and 500 metres from north to south. The island is divided into two sections, a larger eastern part (200 metres high) and a western part that rises to 116 metres. A narrow neck of rock, with a natural tunnel through it, joins the two parts.

Like the other Blasket Islands, an Tiaracht holds large numbers of seabirds, with internationally important populations of Manx shearwater and European storm-petrel. Leach's storm-petrels have also been found there (but not proved to be breeding) in recent years. The number of auks, especially puffins, has apparently fluctuated greatly, though early records are not always reliable.

A lighthouse was established on the island in 1870, and automated in 1988.[1] The lighthouse, maintained by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, is 84 metres above high water.[1] The island also features the steepest funicular rail track in Europe.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Inishtearaght". Commissioners of Irish Lights. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  2. ↑ "Tearaght Island". logainm.ie. Irish Placenames Commission. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  3. ↑ "Ireland". Marine Claims. U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General. p. 3, Part F, Nos 32, 33. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  4. ↑ NIMA (2004). Ireland and the West Coast of England Enroute. Prostar Sailing Directions. ProStar Publications. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-57785-556-9. Retrieved 19 September 2010. Great Foze Rock lies about 3 miles SSW of Tearaght Island
  5. ↑ http://www.blasketislands.ie/landscape.htm

External links