Inisheer, Co. Galway

The smallest of the three Aran Islands, three kilometres long, two wide, with a population of around 280. Irish is the first language.

The Plassey, a Limerick Steamship Company cargo boat, ran aground on Finnis Rock just off the east coast on 8th March 1960, in a storm. The Inisheer Rocket Crew had had a breeches buoy on the island since 1901, but had never used it. They fired their three rockets into the storm, lashed themselves to the line, stood in the Atlantic up to their necks, and got all eleven crewmen ashore alive.

A few weeks later a second storm lifted the Plassey off the rocks and dropped it on the shore. It is still there. You will recognise it from the opening credits of Father Ted.