DAD DIARY: Island intrigue

I was talking to a fellow ‘blow-in’ to Dooega in Achill this week, and he pointed to the majestic view across to Clare Island.
“Would you ever get fed up of it?” he asked, rhetorically. I grew up with one very clear image of Clare Island – the gorgeous view out across Clew Bay as you come down from Sheeaune into Westport.
Working in Westport since Transition Year and going to Bertra, Old Head and Louisburgh on summer trips, I have seen it from that angle thousands of times.
It was only when I met Aisling that I saw the spectacular alternative angle from Achill Island. From Dooega, the cliff face that traverses from the north to the west of Clare Island up to Knockmore dominates our horizon. It is mesmeric.
As someone who grew up inland, I’ll never get bored of it. For our kids, though, this backdrop is all they know. In time, they may take it for granted.
But not yet anyway. These past few weeks, they’ve developed a huge fascination with the islands all around us.
From our sitting room they can see Clare Island every day, unless it’s really overcast. Inishturk is visible most days, while on a clear day you can see out to Inishbofin and Inishark – hard to believe you can see a part of Galway from this far into Mayo.
West of Turk are four faint hills; some are are in Bofin while the most westerly is Shark, located just south west of Bofin.
Sure the kids absolutely love the talk of an island with ‘shark’ in it. Even Séimí, who is only two, is getting in on the act. If we are in the car and he sees anything resembling an island, he’ll shout ‘Ins-shark!’
Éamon (4) is particularly fascinated and has taken to watching videos with me of various islands, including the haunting TG4 documentary about the evacuation of Inishark in 1960.
He wants to know when he can go to Turk, Bofin and Shark. He’s all talk about Inishbiggle and Annagh islands to the north of us too and is devouring maps every chance he gets.
“What’s the biggest island in the world, Daddy?”
“Greenland.”
“What’s the smallest island in the world, Daddy?”
“You have me there, Éamon.”
I have promised Frankie and Éamon a trip to Clare Island this summer – a trip that I hope favourable weather will allow. Éamon got to go with me in 2021 when I was only confident I’d manage one of them. Frankie hasn’t forgotten it! It might be too much of an ordeal with Séimí yet, but it’s definitely in the medium-term plans for us all to go island hopping.
Sure you can’t be looking at them every day and not visit them. Shark may be the hardest to get to but where there’s a will, there’s a way.