Aran Islands/Aran Island/Isle of Arran

[Roger Horton]

Aran Islands/Aran Island/Isle of Arran

The three Aran Islands, Inishmore (Árainn, Inis Mór, Inishmore; the last an English version invented to distinguish it from Aran Island in County Donegal), Inishmaan, and Inisheer, lie in Galway Bay and are regarded as being in VCH 9, County Clare. Approximate greatest dimensions are 12, 2, and 2km. They consist largely of karst limestone. Grid references for the mid-points are approximately L8509, L9304, L9701.

THE BIOLOGICAL VICE-COUNTIES OF IRELAND, D. A. Webb, (1980) says under Pre-1898 deviations from the administrative boundaries:
"The Aran Islands, which have always been administratively part of County Galway, have from the start, on account of their close relationship, geologically and floristically, to County Clare, been regarded as falling under VCH9."

Aran Island is in County Donegal (Árainn Mhór, English: Arranmore; VCH 35, West Donegal, 6km, B6616), and consists largely of Ards quartzite/granite.

Isle of Arran (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Arainn) is the largest of the Clyde Islands (VC100) and is over 30km north-south, and contains most or all of hectads NR94 NR93 NR92, and more. It is composed of granite and sandstone rocks.