Scattery Island Visitor Centre

Scattery Island Visitor Centre Welcome to the official page for Scattery Island Centre an OPW managed site. Senan who was born locally. Senan. Senan's Feast Day on 8th March. St.

Located approximately one mile off Kilrush, Scattery Island is home to a monastic settlement founded in the early 6th century by St. There are the ruins of six churches and one of the highest Round Towers in Ireland, 120 feet high, with it's unusual feature of it's door at ground level. Scattery has had many invasions down through the centuries; the Vikings invaded during the early 9th century but

Brian Boru later recaptured the island. It is believed that Scattery is a derivation of the Norse word for treasure, which is Scatty. The main church on the island is Teampall Naomh Mhuire (Cathedral of Saint Mary), situated next to the round tower. Scattery for a time in the 12th century administered to a diocese. There is an effigy of a bishop's head on the outside of the east window of the Cathedral believed to be that of St. The holy well, called Tobar Sinean, beside the round tower was of great reverence and respect by the islanders. It was also associated with a pattern held on St. Senan is believed to have died in the year 544 and is reputed to be buried in St. Senan's Bed beside Temple Senan a small 12th Century Romanesque church.

End of 2025 SeasonOPW guides John,  Morgan, Simon, Pearse and Eamon  would  like  to  thank very  much all  our  visitor...
29/09/2025

End of 2025 Season
OPW guides John, Morgan, Simon, Pearse and Eamon would like to thank very much all our visitors this season and thanks also to Marina and Tiffany for keeping all our facilities in such pristine condition and Irene and all the team at scatteryislandtours.com for making 2025 such a memorable season.
We are now very much looking forward to the 2026 season.

It was wonderful  to  welcome  Philippe Moorkens  from Belgium  along with his wife Marie and their  family  to Scattery...
21/09/2025

It was wonderful to welcome Philippe Moorkens from Belgium along with his wife Marie and their family to Scattery island recently.
It was Phillipe's father Jean-Albert Moorkens and another Belgian man a Mr. Van Hoflen that owned Scattery island up to 1989.
The late Canon Peter Ryan and the late Michael Nolan, solicitor travelled to Brussels and successfully negotiated the purchase of Scattery Island when the island was offered for sale and they represented Kilrush Community Development Limited and later Clare County Council, Shannon Development, OPW and the Diocese of Killaloe all came on board with financial assistance and subsquently Scattery Island was vested in the state with responsiblity given to the OPW.
Jean-Albert kindly agreed to gift his share of the island on the condition that the Moorkens family name be remembered on Scattery Island along with the many islanders that lost their lives at sea and that request has been honoured with the placing of a commerative plaque in the island's graveyard .
The Moorkens family are pictured here at the commerative plaque with our OPW guide Morgan Roughan

12/09/2025
Great day on Scattery Island on Sunday 7 September. OPW guides Eamonn, Pearse and Morgan having a session.
12/09/2025

Great day on Scattery Island on Sunday 7 September. OPW guides Eamonn, Pearse and Morgan having a session.

Come along to Scattery island this Sunday [September 7th] and hear the Scattery Island trio playing a wide variety of ba...
04/09/2025

Come along to Scattery island this Sunday [September 7th] and hear the Scattery Island trio playing a wide variety of ballads like The west's awake, The cliffs of Dooneen, Spancilhill and many more in the Brennan family cottage which with its flag floor lends itself to dancing as well.
Ballad requests would be greatly appreciated.
The trio are all OPW guides here and features Morgan Roughan on keyboards and lead vocals, Pearse Grimes on guitar and Eamon Mac Lughadha on banjo. An enjoyable afternoon is guaranteed and is the revival of an old island tradition.
Ferry departs at 1.30pm and for bookings please contact 085-2505514 or www.scatteryislandtours.com

29/08/2025

A new school year is almost upon us and so we'd like to remind you that all schools are entitled to a free educational visit in an OPW Heritage site! Whether you're trying to bring the curriculum to life for leaving cert students, or trying to introduce first class students to some local history, there's something for every age group!


📷Viking Tours

It was a very poignant  day  on  Scattery  island  today probably the end of an era as Patty McMahon  was laid  to  rest...
21/08/2025

It was a very poignant day on Scattery island today probably the end of an era as Patty McMahon was laid to rest in her family grave . She is now reunited with her siblings and parents. It was a very historic occasion also as possibly being the last burial on Scattery island's sacred soil. Patty has provided us with many wonderful memories down through the years with her many visits especially on graveyard mass days. She will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by her many friends and all those who knew her.
Ar dheis de go raibh a anam

It is with great sadness that we  learn of the passing of Patricia (Patty) McMahon in her 99th year. Patty was the last ...
20/08/2025

It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Patricia (Patty) McMahon in her 99th year. Patty was the last resident to leave Scattery Island in the mid 1970's and she managed the Islands post office and Lighthouse. Her life on Scattery will always be remembered through the stories that we share about the island and its remarkable history. The island will be closed tomorrow as a mark of respect to Patricia and her family.
May she rest in peace.

It is with great sadness that learn of the passing of Patricia (Patty) McMahon in her 99th year. Patty was the last resident to leave Scattery Island in the mid 1970's and she managed the Islands post office and Lighthouse. Her life on Scattery will always be remembered through the stories that we share about the island and its remarkable history. The island will be closed tomorrow as a mark of respect to Patricia and her family.
May she rest in peace.

National  Heritage  Week  continues  on Scattery  island with   a demonstration  of spinning  yarn  by our  former  guid...
18/08/2025

National Heritage Week continues on Scattery island with a demonstration of spinning yarn by our former guide, Storyteller and crafter Ruth Marshall on tomorrow and Wednesday and also on wednesday OPW architect Ronan Maguire will be giving a talk on Scattery islands restoration works .
For bookings please see www.scatteryislandtours.com

Address

Kilrush
Clare
CLARE

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