Flannán

The largest island, Ellenmore, had been visited for centuries.

There was an ancient chapel associated with St. Flannan.

People made pilgrimages there.

Shepherds used the islands, and over time, stories and traditions became part of the landscape too.

Now, there's an article for Historic UK that talks about how the String of Islands has always been the subject of endless fascination.

The chain was named after St. Flannan Mac Toidalbeg, a 7th century Irish bishop who was later canonized as a saint.

The son of an Irish chieftain, he'd been consecrated by Pope John IV.

as the first bishop of Killaloo and ultimately became its patron saint.

Because of its isolated yet exposed placement in the northern Atlantic Ocean, Elinmore is vulnerable to the worst of the elements brought by wind and sea.

Along with the inhospitable nature of the island itself, it has remained largely uninhabited.

Even after St. Flannan's death, he was said to dwell on the island beyond the grave.

Folklore has it that shepherds would bring their sheep to the island to graze in the summer months.

On page nine of the Champion TFI have an ad and there are two routes on it.

And it's basically NS1 and NS2.

So the two routes for the bus are Ballymaley, Gort Road, Ennis Hospital, Lifford Road, Cusick Park, Ennis Town Centre, Ennis Station, St. Flannans College, Clare Castle.

So it's basically going from the Gort Road to Clare Castle.

From north to south.

Yeah.

And then I suppose it's the other way, east-west-ish.

Toller Road, Cusick Park, Ennis Town Centre, Ennis Station, St. Flannans College, Kilrush Road, Clockley Road, Shanaway Road.