2. Heritage Campuses

3. Research

4. Surveys
  Royal Irish Academy 

• Clare Island Survey
  (1911-1915)
• New Survey of Clare Island
  (1989-2000)

5. Natural history

6. Human History

7. Folklore

8. Abbey wall-paintings

9. Contact us

10. Where is Clare Island ?

11. Links

New survey of Clare Island 1989 - 2000

The Royal Irish Academy, the original sponsors of the First Survey, long recognized the need for a follow-up study.
In 1989, with funding from the National Heritage Council, the "New" Survey of Clare Island was begun. To date, the geology, botany, soils, aspects of the marine biology, zoology, archaeology, folklore and folklife, placenames of the island have been studied.

Research students from Ireland and abroad have spent time on the island, investigating their field of expertise. Some of the new research has fuelled lively debates,as in the geology of the island. In other cases, notably the archaeology, the original work has been completely overturned.

The continued scientific interest in Clare Island through the New Survey has not only added to scientific knowledge in general but has provided to those of us observing 'science in action', valuable insights into the practice of scientific fieldwork.

The original Survey in conjunction with the current work provide the basis for much of the material in our booklet "Studying an Island"and what is offered here.