Inishbofin () is a small island off the coast of Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. Inishbofin has around 180 inhabitants and is a tourist destination.

Name

The island's English name Inishbofin is derived from the Irish name Inis Bó Finne ('Island of the White Cow'). There are several legends about the name's origin. According to one, the island was actually a floating place until some fishermen landed on it in a fog. By bringing fire to the island, they dispelled the magic, fixing it in place. They then saw an old woman driving a white cow, which turned into a rock when the woman struck it with a stick. According to some accounts, Guairim of Inisbofin was the ruler of the island when Colmán came here. The Annals of the Four Masters report the monastery's Abbots until the early 10th century (see below).

Most of the star fort commanding the harbour dates from this period. for the purposes of studying craniometry. Thereafter the remains were stored in TCD's old anatomy museum until early 2023, when it was reported that more than 150 then-residents of Inisbofin had signed a petition calling for the return of the remains and condemned "the criminal nature of how these remains came into the possession of Trinity College in the first place". In February 2023, the provost of Trinity College, Linda Doyle, apologised for the upset caused by the university's possession of the remains and said the university would "consult with islanders on the most appropriate way to return them".

Culture and sports

The island features a Gaelic football pitch and a community centre with an indoor sports hall. It also houses a small island library which provides a reference and local studies collection with information on the history and heritage of the area.

Inishbofin hosted the All-Ireland Islands Football Tournament in 2008 and again in 2017. The current Galway Senior Men's Football team goalkeeper, Ruairi Lavelle, hails from Inishbofin. Another islander, Michael Day, also made his debut in midfield for the Senior team in 2017.

Landmarks

thumb|Ruins of a 13th-century church in St. Colman's Cemetery with the mountains of Connemara in the background

  • Cromwell's Barracks
  • St. Colmán's Cemetery (ruins of a 13th-century church at the site of the 7th century monastery)
  • Light on Gun Rock (built in 1909). It was "swept away" by a storm on 3 January 2014. Inishbofin was mentioned at some length by Irish artist and author Robert Gibbings, writing in 1946.
  • Inishbofin Island Website
  • Article on archaeological work on the island