English
Tory Island
Oilean Toraigh, Tory Island, with a population of just 170 people, is an incredible and delightful Donegal Island.
Words alone, no matter how finely woven, could ever give a true impression of the rugged beauty of Tory, the indominatable spirit of its Gaelic speaking people or their rich cultural inheritance.
Tory must be visited if one is even to begin to understand why this remote crag, two and a half miles long and three quarters of a mile wide, holds such an attraction for its inhabitants that they, like their forebears, endure the full fury of the North Atlantic winter for pleasure and the privilege of living here in summer.
Sadly the most recent King of Tory, Patsaí Dan Mac Ruaidhrí (Patsy Dan Rodgers) passed away in 2018. This was the end of an era as Patsy Dan had held his title since 1993 and had been a very well-known and well-loved figure on the island.
The Island is a nature lovers paradise with many bird species to be identified here and a breeding site for the endangered corncrake.
Tory Island can be reached by one of two ferries which run on a daily basis (weather permitting) from either Magheroarty or Bunbeg. The ferry journey takes about 40 minutes and is for foot passengers only as you can’t bring a car to the island (you won’t need it anyway as there is only one road).
For information on ferries to Tory visit www.toryislandferry.com
Other Donegal Islands to visit include Arranmore, Island Roy, Inishbofin, Inishfree, Gola www.donegalislands.com
Take a step back in time and come and discover and explore this incredible island.
