Omey Tidal Island
Guided Field Trip led by Michael Gibbons, Walking Ireland
Walk: Sunday September 28 2025, 14.00 – 17.00
Tickets cost; Adult €15, Senior/Student €10
Booking via Eventbrite
Meet: Wild Atlantic Way, Signature Discovery Point, Derrigimlagh.
Omey Island, accessible on foot during low tide, reveals a landscape of rugged rocks, sweeping sands, and rich spiritual history. The island is home to secret monastic sites established by St. Féichín, whose Holy Well remains a place of reverence for local fishermen. Today, fewer than 20 residents inhabit Omey, yet the island’s archaeological sites suggest a once thriving community, shaped by centuries of change. The guided walk—spanning small roads, coastal stretches, and open beaches—lasts up to three hours and includes visits to the unseen sites and coastal archaeology exposed by winter storms.
Guide
Michael is a seasoned archaeologist with over 40 years of experience and membership in the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland. He has held roles on the Heritage Council’s Archaeology Committee and the Folklore of Ireland Council, worked internationally in Jerusalem and London, and contributed to major Irish archaeological surveys. As Co-Director of the National Sites and Monuments Record for a decade, he directed projects at sites like Croagh Patrick and Skellig Michael, and has written extensively on heritage management, promoting ICOMOS and UNESCO standards.