Inishbofin, County Donegal

This article is about Inishbofin, Co. Donegal. For Inishbofin, Co. Galway, see Inishbofin, Galway.

Inishbofin

Native name: Inis Bó Finne
Inishbofin (Ireland)
Geography
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates
Area
Country
Ireland
Province	Ulster
County	Donegal
Demographics
Population	11 (as of 2011)

Inishbofin (Inis Bó Finne in Irish, meaning Island of the White Cow) is an island off the coast of Machaire Rabhartaigh (Magheraroarty), County Donegal, Ireland.

Geography

File:Inisbofinne.jpg

Inishbofin as seen from Machaire Rabhartaigh, with Tory Island visible in the distance, October 2011.

File:Tory Island 3.jpg

Inishbofin as seen from Toraigh

It is a 120-hectare (300 acre) land mass long known as a fishing and farming village, a place where generations of inhabitants have spoken Irish. The current population numbers about 36. There are no pubs or shops on the island. There is a boat service to and from it but no regular ferry.

It is the largest of a small group of islands; the others, Inis Dúiche and Inis Beag, lie to the north and are uninhabited.

Demographics

Inishbofin's population dropped in 110 years from 150 (1901) to 11 (2011).

Historical population
Year Pop. ±% 1841 121 —     1851 122 +0.8% 1901 150 +23.0% 1951 120 −20.0%	Year Pop. ±% 1996 24 −80.0% 2002 16 −33.3% 2006 36 +125.0% 2011 11 −69.4%
Source:

The table reports data taken from Discover the Islands of Ireland (Alex Ritsema, Collins Press, 1999) and the Census of Ireland. Census data in Ireland before 1841 were not complete and/or reliable.

See also

• List of islands of Ireland

External links

• Inishbofin Island - The Island Website with information on the island and its history.
• Inis Bó Finne - information from Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann
• Inishbofin, Donegal - a first-hand account – with photographs – of one American's visit
• Historical Map of Inishbofin