 The approaches to the bay between the Aran Islands and the mainland are as follows:
Today, the islands are administratively part of County Galway. The islands' geology is mainly karst limestone and is thus more closely related to The Burren in Co. Clare (to the south) than to the granites of Connemara to the north. The islands' geology is mainly karst limestone and is thus more closely related to The Burren in Co. Clare (to the south) than to the granites of Connemara to the north. Huge boulders up to 25 m above the sea at parts of the west facing cliffs have been shown not to be glacial erratics as originally believed, but rather as an extreme form of storm beach, cast there by giant waves that occur on average once per century. There are several Iron Age forts on Inishmore, including Dún Aengus (Dún Aonghasa, Aran Islands Dialect: dūn aŋgəs) and the Black Fort (Dún Dúchathair). Visitors come in large numbers, particularly in the summer time. Two companies operate a ferry service from Rossaveal in County Galway : the islander-operated Aran Direct and the government-subsidised Island Ferries. An air service (Aer Arann) is available from Inverin, both of which have connecting buses from Galway city. There is also a ferry service from Doolin, Cliffs and Aran Cruises, in County Clare (near the Cliffs of Moher) to Inisheer (30 minute direct sailing). There is currently no direct ferry service from Galway city. |