Inishturk
{{Short description|Island in County Mayo, Ireland}}
{{About|the island in County Mayo|the similarly named islands in Counties Mayo and Galway|Inish Turk Beg|and|Inishturk South}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Inishturk
| image_name = File:Inishturk north.jpg
| image_caption = North coast of Inishturk
| map = island of Ireland
| map_caption =
| native_name = Inis Toirc
| native_name_link = Irish language
| nickname =
| location = Atlantic Ocean
| coordinates = {{coord|53.7014|N|10.1083|W|source:kolossus-dewiki|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago =
| area_km2 = 6
| length_km =
| length_footnotes =
| width_km =
| width_footnotes =
| coastline_km =
| highest_mount =
| elevation_m = 189.3
| country = Ireland
| country_admin_divisions_title = Province
| country_admin_divisions = Connacht
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = County
| country_admin_divisions_1 = Mayo
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 =
| country_admin_divisions_2 =
| country_capital_city =
| country_largest_city =
| country_largest_city_population =
| country_leader_title =
| country_leader_name =
|population = 56
|population_as_of = 2022
|population_footnotes = {{cite report |title=Population of Inhabited Islands Off the Coast|publisher=Central Statistics Office|date=2023 |access-date=29 June 2023|url=https://data.cso.ie/table/F1019}}
| density_km2 = 8.5
| ethnic_groups = Irish
| additional_info =
}}
Inishturk (Inis Toirc in Irish, meaning Wild Boar Island) is an inhabited island of County Mayo, in Ireland.Sometimes the island's name is reported as Inisturk, as for instance by [https://www.google.it/maps/place/Inishturk/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4859897f46f28287:0xd265ae1ab7fab25c?sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwi-lN3CkNfMAhVMDsAKHVFnAAUQ8gEIjQEwDg Google Maps]
Geography
The island lies about {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} off the coast; its highest point reaches {{convert|189.3|m|1|abbr=on}} above sea level.{{cite web |url=http://mountainviews.ie/summit/1041/ |title= Inisturk |author= |date= |website= MountainViews |publisher= Ordnance Survey Ireland |accessdate=23 February 2015}} Between Inisturk and Clare Island lies Caher Island. It has a permanent population of 58 people.{{cite web|url = http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/no-christmas-medical-cover-on-island-of-inishturk-655775.html | website = breakingnews.ie| title = No Christmas medical cover on island of Inishturk | date = 24 December 2014 }} There are two main settlements, both on the more sheltered eastern end of the island, Ballyheer and Garranty. Bellavaun and Craggy are abandoned settlements.
History
Inishturk has been inhabited on and off since 4,000 BCE and has been inhabited permanently since at least 1700.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mayowalks.ie/WalkingTrails/LocalisedLoopWalks/InishturkIsland/ |title=Mayo Walks - Inishturk |access-date=12 October 2016 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217124619/http://www.mayowalks.ie/WalkingTrails/LocalisedLoopWalks/InishturkIsland/ |url-status=dead }} Some of the island's more recent inhabitants are descended from evacuees from Inishark to the southwest.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}
A Martello tower was built during the Napoleonic Wars, {{circa|1805}}, on Inishturk's western coast.{{cite web|url = https://www.destinationwestport.com/explore-westport/ten-reasons-to-take-a-trip-to-inishturk | website = destinationwestport.com | title = Ten Reasons to Take a Trip to Inishturk | accessdate = 3 November 2023 }}
=Recent history=
In 1993, Inishturk Community centre was opened, this community centre doubles as a library and a pub. In June 2014 the ESB commissioned three new Broadcrown BCP 110-50 100kVA diesel generators to supply electricity to the island.[http://www.broadcrown.com/uploads/case-studies/BC%20Inishturk%20CS.pdf BC Inishturk case study] The ESB have operated a diesel power station on the island since the 1980s[http://esbelectricmail.com/_archives/em_archive/archives/index36cc.html?id=193&cat=1 New hope for Inishturk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012234253/http://esbelectricmail.com/_archives/em_archive/archives/index36cc.html?id=193&cat=1 |date=12 October 2016 }}, esbelectricmail.com. Accessed 29 September 2022.
Inishturk gained international attention in 2016 after a number of websites claimed that the island would welcome any American "refugees" fleeing a potential Donald Trump presidency.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/491813/the-tiny-irish-island-that-will-welcome-american-refugees/|title = Inishturk: The Tiny Irish Island That Will Welcome American Refugees|accessdate=29 September 2022}}[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/inishturk-donald-trump_us_577f1d74e4b0344d514eb85e Huffington Post - Looking to escape Donald Trump], Huffingtonpost.com. Accessed 29 September 2022.[http://www.irishcentral.com/news/politics/remote-irish-island-seeks-americans-fleeing-donald-trump-presidency Remote Irish island seeks American fleeing Donald Trump presidency], Irishcentral.com. Accessed 29 September 2022. These were examples of the type of "fake news" that arose during the 2016 US presidential election campaign.{{cite web| url=https://www.businesspost.ie/technology/fake-news-big-business-may-handed-trump-election-370822 | publisher= The Business Post | date=20 November 2016 | title= Fake news is big business - and may have handed Trump the election |url-access=subscription }}
The island is home to a primary school on the island which in 2011 had only 3 pupils; this is believed to be the smallest primary school in Ireland.[https://www.irishtimes.com/news/three-pupil-school-urges-families-to-consider-move-to-idyllic-island-1.598657 Three-pupil school urges families to consider move to 'idyllic' island], irishtimes.com. Accessed 29 September 2022.
= Demographics =
The table below reports data on Inisturk's population taken from Discover the Islands of Ireland (Alex Ritsema, Collins Press, 1999) and the Census of Ireland.
{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 3
|footnote= Source: {{cite web |url= http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?Maintable=CNA17&Planguage=0 |title= CNA17: Population by Off Shore Island, Sex and Year |author= Central Statistics Office |date= |website= CSO.ie |publisher= |accessdate=12 October 2016}}
|1841|577
|1851|174
|1861|110
|1871|112
|1881|116
|1891|135
|1901|135
|1911|132
|1926|101
|1936|107
|1946|125
|1951|123
|1956|110
|1961|108
|1966|92
|1971|83
|1979|85
|1981|76
|1986|90
|1991|78
|1996|83
|2002|72
|2006|58
|2011|53
|2016|51
|2022|56
}}
Transport
Prior to 1997 there was no scheduled ferry service and people traveled to and from the islands using local fishing boats. Since then a ferry service operates from Roonagh Quay, Louisburgh, County Mayo.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mayonews.ie/news/27665-inishturk-islander-committed-to-her-communityInishturk |title=islander committed to her community |access-date=10 October 2016 |archive-date=27 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927041738/https://www.mayonews.ie/news/27665-inishturk-islander-committed-to-her-communityInishturk |url-status=dead }}
The pier was constructed during the 1980s by the Irish government, around this time the roads on the island were paved.[http://roadsandkingdoms.com/2015/winter-inishturk/ Winter Inishturk]
Gallery
File:Caher and Inishturk - geograph.org.uk - 1400397.jpg|Inisturk and Caher island
File:Inishturk1.jpg|Inishturk pier
File:Inishturk pier1.jpg|Harbour with Caher Island in background
File:Inishturk community centre.jpg|Community centre
File:Inishturk lake2.jpg|Freshwater lake
File:Inishturk clare island.jpg |Clare Island as seen from Inishturk
File:Inishturk powerstation.jpg|Power station
See also
{{Portal|Ireland|Islands}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Inishturk}}
- [http://www.podcasts.ie/weekly-shows/mayos-heritage/ Podcast series on Mayo's Heritage, including a heritage Tour of Inishturk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620193125/http://www.podcasts.ie/weekly-shows/mayos-heritage/ |date=20 June 2010 }}
- [http://www.mayonews.ie/news/27665-inishturk-islander-committed-to-her-community Mayo News - Inishturk islander committed to her community] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711102151/https://www.mayonews.ie/news/27665-inishturk-islander-committed-to-her-community |date=11 July 2021 }}
- [http://totallydublin.ie/arts-culture/arts-culture-features/island-life-inishbofin-inishturk/ Island life Inishbofin Inishturk]
- [http://irishislands.info/turk.html Irish Islands - Inishturk]
{{County Mayo}}
{{Authority control}}