Scattery Island Visitor Centre
Island monastic site off Kilrush with a round tower, churches, lighthouse and a visitor centre exhibition, reached by boat in summer.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Scattery Island lies in the Shannon estuary off Kilrush and is linked by tradition to Saint Senan, who is said to have founded a monastery here in the early sixth century. The island keeps the remains of the monastic settlement, including a round tower, a cathedral and several medieval churches. Later buildings include a lighthouse, a Napoleonic artillery battery and the restored village where the pilots of the estuary and the last islanders lived.
The island was abandoned in 1978 and acquired by the state in 1991. It is now a National Monument in State Care managed by the Office of Public Works. The visitor centre on the island holds a small museum and exhibition, and OPW guides lead walking tours across the island.
Visitors reach the island by a boat trip of about 30 minutes from Kilrush Marina. Landing depends on tide and weather, and the island is visited on foot over uneven ground.
Highlights
- Early monastic site with a round tower, cathedral and medieval churches
- Visitor centre with museum and exhibition
- Guided walking tours and audio tour in several languages
- Lighthouse, Napoleonic battery and restored island village
- Boat trip from Kilrush Marina
Permanent exhibition
- Scattery Island museum and exhibition – A museum and exhibition in the island visitor centre present the monastic site and the later history of the island.
- Operated by
- Office of Public Works (OPW) – Heritage Ireland
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry to the island is free, but the boat trip from Kilrush Marina must be booked and paid separately with the boat operator.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Access depends on tide and weather, and visitors should wear boots or strong walking shoes because of uneven walkways and ground. A visual guide (PDF) for first-time, family and disabled visitors is available. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 2.5 hrs |
|---|
A visual guide for families is available as a PDF.
Getting there & parking
Boats leave from Kilrush Marina and take about 30 minutes each way over roughly 2.5 km. Departure depends on the weather.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
Bookshop, toilets and a family toilet at the visitor centre. There are no tea or coffee facilities, so visitors should bring a packed lunch and take their rubbish home.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (FR, DE, IT, ES) |
| Good to know | OPW guides lead a walking tour. An audio tour covering the village street, the lighthouse and the Napoleonic battery is available in French, German, Italian and Spanish. Visitors normally spend about 2.5 hours on the island; a longer stay of about 4 hours is offered every second week. |
