Inis Meáin Experience

Amid the 70 acres of island farm topography that gently rises and falls in tune with limestone outcrops, ancient stonewalling, cliffs where waves crash and an endless sky overhead, Inis Meáin Island Stays is a special place to occupy. 

Made up of two houses which can be rented individually or together as a large group, choose between the Stone House or Boat House. For stays of four nights minimum, the Stone House is the larger, sleeping up to eight in four spacious suites, with a shared communal space which has stunning wraparound views of the island, Galway Bay and Connemara from a 15-metre-long continuous window to the north and west. The Boat House is smaller, with two ensuite suites, sleeping up to four, suitable for a family or small group. The colour palette and tones in both houses reflect the nature outside with timber windows, wooden floors, lime-plastered walls and furnishings in earthy lead greys and mushroom browns in tactile, natural fabrics such as felt and soft woollens. 

While you stay here, you feel as if everything has been especially thought through to allow you to be absorbed into the local life, landscapes and food. A working farm, a stay here means immersion into its everyday world including cattle, bees, hens, vegetable growing, and biodiversity preservation. To this end, foodie extras are created to allow self-catering to be enjoyable and not a hardship while at the same time introducing you to some of the island’s culinary traditions and seasonal delicacies. 

Pretty much at the epicentre of the unspoilt island, Inis Meáin has sweeping views back towards the coastline, which is never far on this tiny Aran isle. From the hotel, you can set off either by bike or foot and explore the fauna and flora, pristine shorelines and countless points in which to stop for a moment of deep contemplation.

Arrival here is mostly via routes from County Galway -  the frequent ferry leaving Rossaveal harbour on the west coast, or there is a limited service from Doolin, Co. Clare. You can also fly to Inis Meáin from Connemara Airport in Inverin.

Marie-Thérèse & Ruairí de Blacam are the kindred souls behind this elemental refuge where life is sweetly in the slow-lane. A duo with such complementing talents and a vision that extends beyond their den sees them reaching out and “grasping nature, the elements and folksy heritage. Every detail is inspired by the island and the unique way of living that is necessary in such a remote location of natural beauty”.

It is the hosts apparent ease that translates to the guests’ chilled at-your-own-pace kind of stay, cradled in the pleasantly addictive and crafted scene headed up Marie-Thérèse & Ruairí. With Inis Meáin’s change of direction, we can’t help but admire this duo, who’ve evolved with the times, knowing precisely when to ebb and flow between the two business of Inis Meáin Island Stays and the original Inis Meáin Knitting Company, now established as an international fashion brand.