Aran Islands - Ireland 2014 - page 472

Eating on Inisheer
Inisheer's three main pubs offer decent pub grub (usually 12:30-20:30). Tigh Raurai Pub
(House of Rory) is the epicenter of island social life (from the pier, head east to the edge
of the beach and turn right—inland—up a narrow lane for 100 yards). Just below it, closer
to the beach, is Ostan Inis Oirr Pub (Hotel Inisheer) with a colorful collage of interna-
tional flags draping the pub's ceiling. Tigh Ned Pub (House of Ned) is right next door to
Bru Hostel, near the pier on the north-shore road. Life could be worse than to sit outside
at their appealing front tables on a summer evening, enjoying a pint in the salt air.
For a mellow evening meal, try the Fisherman's Cottage, a five-minute walk west of
the pier on the north-shore road (daily 12:00-15:00 & 19:00-21:00, tel. [phone], mobile
087-340-5687).
Picnic lovers flock to the island's small grocery, Siopa XL, behind Ostan Inis Oirr Pub
and below Tigh Raurai Pub (Mon-Sat 9:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-15:00).
Aran Islands Connections
For an overview map of the region, see here .
By Ferry from Rossaveel (near Galway)
Island Ferries sails to Inishmore from Rossaveel, a port 20 miles west of Galway. The
company sells tickets at the Galway TI and runs a 45-minute shuttle bus from Galway to
theRossaveeldock(3/dayApril-Oct,2/dayNov-March,45-minutecrossing;comingfrom
Galway, allow 2 hours in transit one-way including 45-minute bus ride; €25 round-trip
boat crossing plus €7 round-trip for Galway-Rossaveel shuttle bus, 10 percent discount
if you book online, WCs on board). Catch shuttle buses from Galway on Queen Street, a
block behind the Kinlay Hostel (check-in 1.5 hours before sailing); shuttles return to Gal-
way immediately after each boat arrives. Ferry schedule for April-Oct: from Rossaveel
at 10:30, 13:00, and 18:30; from Inishmore at 8:15, 12:00, 16:00, and 17:00 (plus 18:30
July-Aug). Island Ferries has two offices in Galway: on Forster Street across from the TI
and across from Kinlay Hostel on Merchants Road (tel. [phone], after-hours tel. 091/
572-273, www.aranislandferries.com ).
Beware: The boat you take out to the islands may not be the same as the one you come
back on. And sometimes you'll board by walking up the gangplank of one boat and walk-
ing across its deck to another boat docked beside or behind it. Make sure to ask.
DriversshouldgostraighttotheferrylandinginRossaveel,passingseveralticketagen-
cies and pay parking lots. At the boat dock, you'll find a convenient €5-per-day lot and a