The island lies about 15 km (9 mi) off the coast; its highest point reaches 189.3 m (621.1 ft) above sea level.[2] Between Inisturk and Clare Island lies Caher Island. It has a permanent population of 58 people.[5] 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.[6] Some of the island's more recent inhabitants are descended from evacuees from Inishark to the southwest.[citation needed]
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.[8] The ESB have operated a diesel power station on the island since the 1980s[9]
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.[10][11][12] These were examples of the type of "fake news" that arose during the 2016 US presidential election campaign.[13]
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.[14]
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.
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.[15]
The pier was constructed during the 1980s by the Irish government, around this time the roads on the island were paved.[16]
^R. Lloyd Praeger (March 1907). "The Flora of Inishturk". The Irish Naturalist. 16 (3): 113–125. JSTOR25523043. Inishturk lies off the Mayo coast [..] It is also much smaller than either [of its neighbours], having an area of 21⁄4 square miles, as against Bofin's 41⁄2 square miles (Inishark included), and Clare's 61⁄6 square miles
