The Clare Island Ferry Company

The Clare Island Ferry Company is owned and operated by the O’Grady family, natives of Clare Island, who have been operating the Clare Island Mail Boat Ferry service since 1880.

Their ferry , the “Pirate Queen”, is named after the infamous 16th century pirate queen, Grace O’ Malley (Granuaile). She lived in a castle by the harbour on Clare Island during the course of her life as a “ chief commander and director of thieves and murderers at sea”. The pirate flag flies from the ferry in her honour.

	The “Pirate Queen”, which is the largest and most modern ferry operating to Clare Island, is registered with the Department of the Marine and Failte Ireland and has a certificate for 96 passengers and 4 crew members. Passengers may sit inside the heated lounge area, or sit on the upper sun deck and enjoy the panoramic view of the Clew Bay coastline.
The O’Grady’s also operate a smaller ferry boat, the “Very Likely”, which caters for 12 passengers and 2 crew. This boat may be chartered for small groups for sightseeing trips around Clare Island or trips to other islands such as Inishturk or Achill.

The cruise from Roonagh Quay (west of Louisburgh) to Clare Island takes just 15 minutes.
The journey gives you enough time to view and photograph a most spectacular coastline which includes Achill Island, the Nephin mountain range, the islands of Clew Bay, Croagh Patrick (Ireland’s famous pilgrimage mountain) and Inishturk.

Inishturk is a small, beautiful Island 5km x 2.5km located 14.5km off the west coast of Mayo, between Clare Island to the east and Inishbofin to the west. The island has much to offer the visitor from small sandy beaches, mountains and spectacular cliffs that are hosts to a large variety of sea birds. The panoramic view of coastline and mountains from Slyne Head to Achill Head viewed from Inishturk is breathtaking and unequalled around any part of the coast of Ireland. It has a population of 65 people and there are Bord Failte registered Guesthouses available. The island people are very friendly and welcoming to the visitor and also provide traditional Irish music and song as entertainment.

So let us extend a warm invitation to you to step aboard the Clare Island Ferry - the “Pirate Queen” - and visit Clare Island. We believe that, like so many others before you, you will be captivated by the island’s charms and will want to return time and again.