The Saltee Islands is comprised of a pair of privately owned, ancient islands, lying 3 miles off the coast of Kilmore Quay, County Wexford. The islands are well known to birdwatchers, and are considered to be one of the largest bird sanctuaries in the world. Over 220 species of bird have been recorded on the Saltee Islands.
The waters surrounding the islands can be treacherous and due to the number of ships that have been sunk in the area have been nicknamed “The Graveyard of a Thousands Ships”. Ships passing the Saltees sank for a variety of reasons. Many fell victim to the rocks in the area, while others succumbed to bad weather. Many more were sunk as a result of direct attack by German submarines during the World Wars, or found their way to the sea floor after hitting one of the many mines that were placed in the area.
The owners of the islands, the Neale family, welcome you to visit Great Saltee, to admire its natural beauty, and enjoy the remarkable species of bird that make the island their home. Inadequate landing facilities prevent access to the smaller island, Little Saltee. Day tours to Great Saltee can be made from the mainland, in Kilmore Quay. The Neale family does ask you to respect some rules and safety guidelines that they have made available on the website below.
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Written by Liam O’Connell
Liam is a Cork City native who now spends most of his time in California. He travels back to Ireland frequently to spend time with family and enjoy the Irish countryside. Liam blogs about the Emerald Isle on his website GotIreland.com. Liam’s Tips | Website
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