Island Eddy 2.65

Island Eddy is a small island at the inner, eastern end of Galway Bay.OrthographyThe island is always referred to locally as 'Island Eddy' not 'Eddy Island'. The official Irish Government commission on placenames confirms this usage, giving its Irish and English orthography thus: ‘Oileán Eide / Island Eddy’. It is not to be confused with Islandeady, an inland village and parish in Co. Mayo.LocationGeographicalIsland Eddy is situated on the inner reaches of Galway Bay on the west coast of Ireland. The nearest town, as the crow flies, would be Kinvara which sits at the head of a shallow inlet some 7 km to the south, south-east.AdministrativeTownland Name: Island EddyCivil Parish: DrumacooBarony: DunkellinElectoral Division: Drumcoo EDCounty: GalwayProvince: ConnachtDiocese – historical: KilmacduaghDiocese - modern: Galway, Kilmacduagh & KilfenoraPoor Law Union: GalwayRural District: 10: Galway District Electoral Division: 043: BallynacourtyPhysical characterIsland Eddy consists of three low islets, inter-linked and flanked by extensive isthmuses and spits. At the south-west end of the island a number of the latter combine to form a large lagoon-like area, and a second series also define another 'lagoon' towards the eastern end. These are known locally as "Malluirs", probably because they fill and drain up to and hour behind the normal tidal pattern. They are labelled as the North Mallmhuir and the South Mallmhuir, respectively. The islets are probably partially submerged drumlins while the isthmuses and spits are largely composed of sea-rolled cobbles and shingle. At the eastern extremity of the island there is a long sinuous sand-spit called "the cush", which allows access to the island by foot at certain spring tides.