Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A formerly inhabited marine island with an automated lighthouse located 5 km north of Malin Head, in County Donegal. The site also includes Tor rocks, c.1 km to the north, and the intervening sea area. The island is predominantly grassland, which until recently was grazed by red deer
Cervus elaphus. Low-intensity fishing takes place between the main island and Tor rocks.
The cliffs and rocks support important colonies of breeding seabirds. Other breeding species present in nationally important numbers (1991-1992) include
Fulmarus glacialis (250 pairs),
Larus argentatus (500 pairs),
Larus canus (30 pairs) and
Larus marinus (50 pairs). Additionally Inishtrahull is a nationally important winter feeding site for
Branta leucopsis (153 birds, 1987) and is a breeding site for
Somateria mollissima (over 200 pairs, 1992).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Until their recent removal, overgrazing by deer was a potential threat to the site. There may be some disturbance to birds due to rock-angling and scuba-diving activities.
National None
International High315 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Inistrahull, 315 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Inishtrahull (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/inishtrahull-iba-ireland on 21/12/2024.
