Trá an Chaisil

Beach / strand

Explorer Tom

Trá an Chaisil on Arranmore has a cracking trick: it puts a small island shore beside a story that reaches across centuries, then lets the Atlantic supply the soundtrack. Donegal is rather good at this sort of thing; even the quieter corners arrive with a view and a reason to linger. This is the strand at Na Goirt Ghearra on Arranmore, not one of the many other Donegal beaches called Trá Mór or Trá an Chaisil elsewhere in Ireland. The island's own visitor guide places the old graveyard beside Trá an Chaisil in the south. It records a sombre reason for the burial ground: nine islanders drowned while travelling to a funeral on the mainland, and the ground was given to islanders in 1725. A new graveyard replaced it in 1893. That history deserves a quiet moment rather than a jokey flourish. The beach and the graveyard are neighbours, but they are different places with different reasons to visit. For the wider setting, the Slí Árainn Mhór walking guide actually names Trá an Chaisil Strand on its island loop. The published route is 14 kilometres and follows quiet country and bog roads, with a lighthouse spur among its options. You need not march the whole circuit to appreciate this stop. Arranmore rewards short pauses: look back towards the island road, then out over the water, and notice how quickly a patch of light can pick out a slope or a boat. I reckon the island keeps its own lighting crew hidden behind a cloud, though I have yet to find their tea flask. The walking guide helps you place the strand; it does not give permission to cross a graveyard, private field or unmarked shortcut to reach sand. Arrive by the marked public route and follow signs on the day. Keep to established approaches, respect gates and graves, and turn back if a particular way is closed or unclear. An island beach can change shape with the tide, so check conditions before committing to a shoreline walk. There is no reason to scramble around a headland to complete a visit. A safe view from the road still counts as an excellent Donegal outing. Arranmore is reached by ferry from Burtonport, and a day here is better planned around the actual sailing and the weather than around an ambitious list of stops. Carry what you need for the walk, leave room for the return trip, and keep the place tidy. On the island, give local vehicles room on narrow roads. If you come for the strand, let the old graveyard account deepen the visit without treating it as a prop. That is a real piece of island memory, and the people in it were real neighbours. Trá an Chaisil is a pleasingly modest name on a map and a much richer stop in person: shore, island road, open water and history all close together. Take the permitted route, give the graveyard its respect, and let Arranmore do the rest. The sea has already booked the best seat.

What is recorded here

Trá an Chaisil is recorded as a beach / strand in County Donegal.

From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors) r6923260

What do you know about this place?Tap to add a comment or ask a question

Places near here

Photo credits

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Kmcnamee, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Joseph Mischyshyn, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Joseph Mischyshyn, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Robert Bone, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Robert Bone, Wikimedia Commons
P L Chadwick, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Eric Jones, Wikimedia Commons
A McCarron, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Colin Park, Wikimedia Commons

Teach Pobail Naomh Cróine [Saint Crone's Catholic Church]Church/chapel · 142 yd

Explorer Tom Teach Pobail Naomh Cróine has a map label that calls it Saint Crome’s, which sounds like a very confused wizard. I…

Gairmscoil McDiarmada, Arranmore GAAGAA ground · 1405 yd

EarlysPub · 1.0 mi

Explorer Tom Earlys in Moville hosted Daniel O'Donnell, so tell them Tom wanted to sing along even if it was truly off-key. Pick a…

An Staca Mór [Stackamore]Beacon · 1.2 mi

Explorer Tom An Staca Mór [Stackamore] is a white stone navigation beacon near the channel to Arranmore. It may date from around…

An tÍochtarIsland · 1.5 mi

Explorer Tom An tÍochtar is having a real go at the seagulls today. They’re screaming their heads off about the parking situation…

Inis Mhic an DoirnIsland · 1.7 mi

Explorer Tom Rutland Island was once pitched as the next big fishing town, and I would have invested every imaginary penny in it.…

Cairn on Cnoc an IolairPublicly named cairn · 1.9 mi

Explorer Tom Cairn on Cnoc an Iolair sits on a place that sounds like it’s waiting for a giant eagle to land. Maybe the stones are…

Burtonport Loops - Lúb Cheann Bhaile CruaicheOfficial walking route · 2.3 mi

Explorer Tom Burtonport's Lúb Cheann Bhaile Cruaiche starts by the harbour and borrows an old railway line for a glorious Donegal…

O’Donnell’sPub · 2.4 mi

Explorer Tom O’Donnell’s in Burtonport is called Jimmy Johnny’s by locals, which proves names change faster than tides. It would…

Burtonport Loops - Lúb Chroicheach MhórOfficial walking route · 3.3 mi

Explorer Tom Lúb Chroicheach Mhór is the Burtonport loop that begins by St Columba's Community Centre and gives an old railway line…

Tor an ÉidighHeadland · 3.7 mi

Explorer Tom Tor an Éidigh is recorded as a headland in County Donegal. The caption calls it Torneady Point, which sounds like a…

Rinrawros Point / Rinn RamhroisHeadland · 3.7 mi

Explorer Tom Rinrawros Point, or Rinn Ramhrois, is the western island edge where Árainn Mhór gives the Atlantic its full attention…

More beaches and strands in County Donegal · All of County Donegal

Add to this placeAdd a picture Add a detailed tip Add a story

Explore the map1,095,414 places to discover

Next place · or swipeTeach Pobail Naomh Cróine [Saint Crone's Catholic Church]