Inishmeane (Irish: Inis Meáin, meaning 'middle island[3]') is a small island and a townland off the coast of Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland and was once home to a vibrant fishing community. The island has been unpopulated for decades but in recent years some people have started to return.
Inishmeane is around 1 kilometre off the coast of Gweedore. It lies between Gola Island (South-East) and Inishsirrer (North).
Historyedit
The island was inhabited up until the 1960s; today most of the buildings are derelict, but about eight have been renovated for use as holiday homes or permanent habitation.[3]
On Inishmeane there is no electricity nor freshwater public supply.[4]
A concrete pier was installed during the celtic tiger years to allow residents to moor their boats.[citation needed]
Demographicsedit
The table below reports data on Inishmeane's population taken from Discover the Islands of Ireland (Alex Ritsema, Collins Press, 1999) and the Census of Ireland.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1841
12
—
1851
57
+375.0%
1861
46
−19.3%
1871
34
−26.1%
1881
42
+23.5%
1891
68
+61.9%
1901
68
+0.0%
1911
82
+20.6%
Year
Pop.
±%
1926
63
−23.2%
1936
66
+4.8%
1946
62
−6.1%
1951
58
−6.5%
1956
54
−6.9%
1961
47
−13.0%
1966
2
−95.7%
1971
0
−100.0%
Year
Pop.
±%
1979
0
0.00%
1981
0
0.00%
1986
0
0.00%
1991
0
0.00%
1996
0
0.00%
2002
0
0.00%
2006
0
0.00%
2011
7
—
Source: Central Statistics Office. "CNA17: Population by Off Shore Island, Sex and Year". CSO.ie. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
^"Inis Meáin". Placenames Database of Ireland. Dublin City University. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
^General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes, and Baronies of Ireland: Based on the Census of Ireland for the Year 1851. Genealogical Publishing Com. 1861. p. 539. ISBN9780806310527. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
^ abWallace Clark (2003). Donegal Islands. Dundurn. p. 39. ISBN9781900935319. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
^David Walsh (2004). Oileáin: a guide to the Irish islands. Pesda press. p. 195. ISBN9780953195695. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
External linksedit
Media related to Inishmeane at Wikimedia Commons
Ecological study of two Donegal islands: Inishfree and Inishmeane
inishmeane, confused, with, inishmaan, irish, inis, meáin, meaning, middle, island, small, island, townland, coast, gweedore, county, donegal, ireland, once, home, vibrant, fishing, community, island, been, unpopulated, decades, recent, years, some, people, ha. Not to be confused with Inishmaan Inishmeane Irish Inis Meain meaning middle island 3 is a small island and a townland off the coast of Gweedore County Donegal Ireland and was once home to a vibrant fishing community The island has been unpopulated for decades but in recent years some people have started to return InishmeaneNative name Inis Meain 1 Inishmeane from Magheragallon CemeteryInishmeaneGeographyLocationAtlantic OceanCoordinates55 06 15 N 8 20 46 W 55 10417 N 8 34611 W 55 10417 8 34611Area0 473 km2 0 183 sq mi 2 AdministrationIrelandProvinceUlsterCountyDonegalDemographicsPopulation7 2011 Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Demographics 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksGeography editInishmeane is around 1 kilometre off the coast of Gweedore It lies between Gola Island South East and Inishsirrer North History editThe island was inhabited up until the 1960s today most of the buildings are derelict but about eight have been renovated for use as holiday homes or permanent habitation 3 On Inishmeane there is no electricity nor freshwater public supply 4 A concrete pier was installed during the celtic tiger years to allow residents to moor their boats citation needed Demographics editThe table below reports data on Inishmeane s population taken from Discover the Islands of Ireland Alex Ritsema Collins Press 1999 and the Census of Ireland Historical populationYearPop 184112 185157 375 0 186146 19 3 187134 26 1 188142 23 5 189168 61 9 190168 0 0 191182 20 6 YearPop 192663 23 2 193666 4 8 194662 6 1 195158 6 5 195654 6 9 196147 13 0 19662 95 7 19710 100 0 YearPop 197900 00 198100 00 198600 00 199100 00 199600 00 200200 00 200600 00 20117 Source Central Statistics Office CNA17 Population by Off Shore Island Sex and Year CSO ie Retrieved 12 October 2016 Gallery edit nbsp House on InishmeaneSee also editList of islands of Ireland Inis Meain Aran Islands References edit Inis Meain Placenames Database of Ireland Dublin City University Retrieved 22 February 2016 General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns Parishes and Baronies of Ireland Based on the Census of Ireland for the Year 1851 Genealogical Publishing Com 1861 p 539 ISBN 9780806310527 Retrieved 22 February 2016 a b Wallace Clark 2003 Donegal Islands Dundurn p 39 ISBN 9781900935319 Retrieved 22 February 2016 David Walsh 2004 Oileain a guide to the Irish islands Pesda press p 195 ISBN 9780953195695 Retrieved 22 February 2016 External links edit nbsp Media related to Inishmeane at Wikimedia Commons Ecological study of two Donegal islands Inishfree and Inishmeane Guide to the island Aerial view of the entire island nbsp Ireland portal nbsp Islands portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Inishmeane amp oldid 1156277015, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
