Gola Island, known as Gabhla or Oileán Ghabhla in Irish, lies on The Wild Atlantic Way, a mere mile off the Donegal coast.
It is a haven for artists, nature lovers, walkers and rock climbers.
A 15 minute drive from my home takes me to the Gola ferry leaving from Magheragallan.
September’s Indian summer provided perfect conditions for my first exploration of the island’s dramatic scenery.
The Ferry Crossing
Author Sean Hillen had also taken advantage of the good weather to visit Gola.
He and his wife Columbia, formed Ireland Writing Retreat to provide:
“Week-long, creative writing holidays with a difference – scenic walks, historic excursions, food and drinks tasting, fascinating author talks and daily practical writing and editing workshops.”
Sean introduced me to Sabba Curran – captain of The Cricket, and we posed together for posterity.
Sean Hillen, Sabba and Me on the Pier at Magheragallan
The sea crossing was calm, and in less than ten minutes I alighted on Gola with just two other day visitors and a handful of locals.
Tourist Information
Tourists are provided with information on walks and wildlife at the end of the pier.
Other signs point to a delightful shop cum tearoom, a mere five minutes walk away.
An Teach Beag
Eddie McGee provides tea and sustenance at An Teach Beag, which boasts magnificent 360 degree views.
He is also a great raconteur, and I enjoyed learning a little of the island’s rich cultural heritage.
In the 1940’s Gola boasted more than 200 inhabitants largely involved in the fishing industry. However, the population suffered a steep decline in the 1960’s with the closure of the school in 1967.
Happily, people are returning, and a number of new homes have been built.
It gladdened my heart to know that Eddie – a skilled joiner, is engaged in restoring some of the older houses.
Before I left his delightful establishment, local author and historian Vincent Breslin joined our conversation, sharing more anecdotes on the island.
Serendipity at it’s best!
Port an Chruinn
A hop, skip and a jump from An Teach Beag, is Port an Chruinn, where I delighted in the tranquillity and stunning scenery.
Scoilt na Loinge
At Scoilt na Loinge, I gazed over the mighty Atlantic Ocean. I could have sat there all day…
Cnoc an Chait
Keen to get a little more exercise, I headed to Cnoc an Chait, which lies at the northern end of the island, taking me past Loch Mhachaire na nGall.
I passed no other walkers, but a cyclist did whizz by as I reached the summit.
The mile long walk was worth taking for the incredible views.
A Mindful Picnic
Keen to walk a more mindful talk, I returned to a bench near the pier for a welcome picnic.
Dolmades consumed, I sat still for an hour, feeling incredibly blessed.
If you enjoyed this post you might like:
The Wild Atlantic Way – Tory Island
Tory Island and Saint Colm Cille
Derek Hill and Tory Island’s Artists
Tory Island Walks – The Legend of Balor of the Evil Eye
Brigid P. Gallagher is a retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.
Hello Brigid, what a wild and beautiful part of the world. Thank you for the beautiful scenic views.
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Thank you Barbara. It was such a beautiful day. My only regret was that I did not visit Gola sooner… How are you?
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I am well thank you Brigid. Learning new things in the art and craft world which keeps my spirits up. A visit from my grandniece from UK earlier this month was a lovely diversion too. I am not blogging at present, but love reading posts from friends from afar. xx
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Lovely. I am glad you are enjoying life. It is great to hear from you. I hope to get a break from blogging soon. xx
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Thank you for sharing your gorgeous photos, Brigid! A lovely way to start my day.
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Thank you Jill. I am so glad you enjoyed them. Happy Monday.
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Brigid, thank you for sharing your blessed day … helping to make ours just so! 😀 Awe-inspiring landscape, breathtaking in places and I feel rejuvenated for having ‘come along’ . It’s good news that the island is being repopulated and it must be incredible to live there.
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Thank you Annika. It was such a fabulous day. Gola gets a lot of visitors in summer, so it was lovely to enjoy it on a quiet day. I was so glad to see all those lovely old houses being restored, and enjoyed.
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It’s all so beautiful, Brigid! I loved learning more about this place!
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Thank you Jennifer. I am sorry it took me so long to visit Gola. It was so lovely. x
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Wow and wow, Brigid. You r looking so beautiful. Nice to see such a wonderful place and your great description too. Thanks 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
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Thank you Kamal. I am so glad you enjoyed my island trip. It was a very special day. x
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Yes must surely be Brigid.
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I love cliffs and rocks. This is gorgeous.
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Thank you Jacqui. I am a big fan of cliffs and rocks too. Gola is such a beautiful unspoiled island. I shall return!
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What a beautiful and pristine place, Brigid. You had a wonderful blue sky too. 🙂
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Thank you Diana. It was a joy to visit Gola. Happily, we have lovely blue skies again this week. Going out the garden later…
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Your pictures are so beautiful, Brigid. I wish I was there with you.
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Thank you Robbie. I hope you get to visit Ireland and perhaps Donegal?
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I hope so, Brigid.
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This is amazing, Brigid! Thank you so much for sharing! Wow!
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Thank you Jan. I am so glad Gola is getting such positive feedback. The islanders will be thrilled.
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Really a beautiful place to visit Brigid, thank you for bringing us 😀
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My pleasure Irene. We have a lot of lovely islands here in Donegal. I must showcase more of them.
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That sounds like a great idea, Brigid 😀
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Sounds like a transformative retreat in many ways. Very scenic and freeing.
As always a beautifully written and photographed
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Thank you Bella. I would love to go back and spend a few nights on Gola. It has a special energy, as does Tory Island.
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Some places have a special energy that fill us with peace, newness and strength.
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Thank you for another wonderful tour Brigid! What a gorgeous place, and it sounds like the folks who live there are fabulous.
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Thank you Terri. It was so nice to meet up with the islanders, and have a good chat over a cup of tea. I am so glad that the houses are being restored.
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How wonderful that you had so much energy to walk and explore. Clearly your changed life is helping you thrive.
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Thank you Elizabeth. I really enjoy walking. It seems to give me a boost on all levels. Yoga and swimming also help. I just need to be mindful of listening to my body!
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So do we all.
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What a beautiful place, certainly a blessing.
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Thank you Masha. It certainly is beautiful and unspoiled. I hope it remains so…
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You have the correct spelling for most of the placenames on the island, however you have unfortunately misspelt the name of the island: the correct name is Gabhla.
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Thank you for your feedback. I have added your spelling.
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What incredibly beautiful and tranquil looking places!
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Thank you Jen. I feel very blessed to live here.
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