Inishbofin is the most westerly inhabited island in Connacht. The island is a microcosm of the West of Ireland’s main habitats – blanket bog, mountain, lake, cliffs, beaches and dunes and farmland – unspoiled by the intensive agricultural methods practiced elsewhere. Beautiful colourful meadows are a common sight during the summer months.
It is a haven for rare species of birds such as the Corncrake, Curlew and Lapwing as well as being an important stop off point for a lot of migratory species in the spring and autumn. The natural meadows and lakes offer habitats to a huge range of more common species of birds and a vast array of wildflowers can be found here. The smaller bird species thrive on Inishbofin due to the absence of natural predators such as badgers, stoats, and foxes though there is a thriving population of birds of prey.
Other wildlife to be found offshore include seals, dolphins, and basking sharks. It is not unusual to see dolphins and basking sharks on the journey to Inishbofin from Cleggan. They often follow the ferry and are a source of great excitement. Seals are mostly seen at ‘The Stags’ in the north-east of the island but do pop up in other places also such as around Dún na h-Iníne and the Dún Mór Cliffs.
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