Tearaght Island
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Irish English Template:Infobox islands Tearaght Island or Inishtearaght<ref name="irishlights"/> (Template:Irish place name,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> meaning 'the westerly') is an uninhabited steep rocky island west of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland.
GeographyEdit
At longitude 10° 39.7' Tearaght is the westernmost of the Blasket Islands, and thus the westernmost island of Ireland. It is also one of the westernmost points in Europe after Iceland,<ref>The British Isles: A Trivia Gazetteer By Paul Anthony Jones; Published by Summersdale Publishers LTD., pg. 311</ref> and Azores. However, there are some exposed rocks further west: Tearaght Rocks, Tearaght Rocks West (10° 41.0'), and Foze Rocks (10° 41.3').<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="NIMA2004">Template:Cite book</ref>
An Tiaracht is about a kilometre from east to west, and Template:Convert from north to south. The island is divided into two sections, a larger eastern part (Template:Convert high) and a western part that rises to Template:Convert. A narrow neck of rock, with a natural tunnel through it, joins the two parts.<ref>Townlands.ie - Tearaght</ref>
DemographicsEdit
Template:Historical populations
NatureEdit
Like the other Blasket Islands, Tiaracht holds large numbers of seabirds, with internationally important populations of Manx shearwater and European storm-petrel. Leach's storm-petrels have also been found there (but not proved to be breeding) in recent years. The number of auks, especially puffins, has apparently fluctuated greatly, though early records are not always reliable.Template:Citation needed
Inishtearaght LighthouseEdit
A lighthouse was established on the island in 1870, and automated in 1988.<ref name="irishlights"/> The lighthouse, maintained by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, has a tower Template:Convert high and the focal height is at Template:Convert above sea level, it has a range of Template:Convert.<ref name="irishlights"/> The light was served by the steepest funicular rail track in Europe<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> from 1913 until automation.<ref name="irishlights"/>
GalleryEdit
- 1987. Tearaght Island aka Inishtearaght aka An Tiaracht 04.jpg
Rocks near the island
- 1987. Tearaght Island aka Inishtearaght aka An Tiaracht 05.jpg
The lighthouse on the island
- 1987. Tearaght Island aka Inishtearaght aka An Tiaracht 07.jpg
Channels used to funnel rainwater into tanks for storage
- 1987. Tearaght Island aka An Tearacht aka Inishtearaght, County Kerry, Ireland 04.jpg
The lighthouse
- 1987. Tearaght Island aka Inishtearaght aka An Tiaracht 08.jpg
The lighthouse at sunset in 1987
- 1987. Tearaght Island aka An Tearacht aka Inishtearaght, County Kerry, Ireland 02.jpg
The top of a funicular railway for transporting materials from the boat landing up to the lighthouse
- Tearaght Island, County Kerry, Ireland.jpg
The lighthouse and sea arch