An Tiaracht [Tearaght Island]

Rising dramatically from the Atlantic as the westernmost point of the Blasket Islands, this steep-sided rock is more fortress than hill. Accessible only by sea, its sharp ridges offer a rugged ascent for those able to land; the summit provides a unique perspective looking east to Great Blasket and south toward Skellig Michael.

• •The name An Tiaracht translates from Irish as 'the westerly', a fitting title for a location that serves as the westernmost point of Ireland and the final sentinel of the Blasket archipelago.
• •The island is home to a lighthouse established in 1870; before its automation in 1988, keepers reached the lantern by climbing a spectacular flight of 600 steps carved directly into the near-vertical cliff face.
• •Large colonies of Manx shearwaters and European storm petrels use the island as a breeding sanctuary, drawn by its remoteness and the absence of land-based predators found on the Dingle Peninsula.
• •The hill is essentially split into two sections—the Great and Little Tearaght—connected by a high neck of land, with a massive natural tunnel passing through the rock at sea level.
• •Finding a day when the Atlantic swell allows for a safe boat landing is the true crux of the climb, often requiring more patience than the actual ascent of the hill itself.