Question 1

Planning a trip to Inis Meáin?

Accepted Answer

Here are the questions we hear most often about hiring a bike on Inis Meáin (also written Inishmaan), from prices and booking to ferries and the best of the island's stone roads. If your question isn't answered below, email eolas@rothaiinismeain.com or call +353 83 326 3754 and a local voice will sort you out.

Question 2

How do I get to Inis Meáin?

Accepted Answer

Ferries sail to Inis Meáin year-round from Ros a' Mhíl (Rossaveal) in Connemara, under an hour from Galway city by road, and seasonally from Doolin in Co. Clare. You can also fly from Connemara Regional Airport with Aer Arann Islands, a hop of about ten minutes. Sailings vary by season, so check the operators' timetables when planning your trip.

Question 3

Can I visit Inis Meáin as a day trip?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and a bike is the best way to make the day count. Ferry timetables generally give you several hours on the island, enough to cycle to Dún Chonchúir, sit a while at Synge's Chair, and still have time for lunch before the boat home. Book your bike online before you travel and you'll lose none of that time queueing.

Question 4

How long does it take to cycle around Inis Meáin?

Accepted Answer

Inis Meáin is small, at 10 square kilometers in area (4 square miles), and a relaxed loop of the main sights takes two to three hours with stops. Most reasonably active visitors find a regular bike perfectly manageable. The roads are quiet but they do rise and fall, so if hills aren't your friend, an e-bike flattens them nicely.

Question 5

What should I see while cycling the island?

Accepted Answer

The classics are Dún Chonchúir, a great oval stone fort with views over the whole island, Cathaoir Synge (Synge's Chair) on the western cliffs, and Teach Synge, the cottage where the playwright J.M. Synge spent his summers. Add the sheltered beach near the pier and the island's famous knitwear shop and you have a full day. Every hire includes a local map, and we're always happy to sketch out a route to suit you.

Question 6

Is it Inis Meáin or Inishmaan?

Accepted Answer

Both names refer to the same island. Inis Meáin is the Irish name, and since this is a Gaeltacht island where Irish is the everyday language, it's the spelling you'll see here. Inishmaan is the anglicised version found on many maps and ferry websites. Either way, it's the middle of the three Aran Islands, sitting between Inis Mór and Inis Oírr, and the quietest of them.