Mutton Island
![Mutton Island from the air](muttonair.jpg)
- Mutton Island lies in Galway Bay, just off shore from the
Claddagh, near the entrance to Galway Harbour.
- The low island has always been a source of embarrassment
for ships' captains,especially when coming in on high tide.At low tide the
acres of sea-weed covered rocks are easy to see,but unfortunately not at
high tide.As a result there are a number of shipwrecks on the island
including the Dutch ship M.V June which sank in 1962.
- At low tide winkle pickers from the Claddagh would walk
right out on to the island on the natural causeway of weed-covered rocks to
fill their buckets.
- Now a sewage treatment plant is being built on the on the
island.The natural causeway has been replaced by a man-made one.This now
permanently links the island to the Claddagh.
- Grey seals, tern and puffins are some of the wildlife that
now inhabit the island.
![](back.gif)