Scraw turf drying at roadside.

Sheep have superseded cattle in importance in the island’s economy since the mid-nineteenth century. The numbers currently allowed to graze on the commonage are restricted under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

Salmon fishing on River Moy.

Salmon fishing on River Moy.

Salmon fishing on River Moy.

Salmon fishing on River Moy.

Fishermen at Portacloy.

Lobster pot, Fallmore.

Fishermen at Portacloy.

Fish traps at Port a' Chlóidh.

Lobster pot, Fallmore.

Fishermen at Portacloy.

Boats at Fallmore.

Fishermen at Portacloy.

Fishermen at Portacloy.

Turf cleat (turf stand), Knockmore, Clare Island.

Old ridges, Mullet.

Unharvested scraw turf, Clare Island.

Old ridges, Mullet.

Old ridges, Mullet.

Turf cleat (turf stand), Knockmore, Clare Island. Pat Ewen (Dublin) in picture.

Turf cleats (turf stands), Knockmore, Clare Island. Pat Ewen (Dublin) in picture.

close up of potatoes planted in spade ridges.

View of a well-dressed woman steering a horse-drawn plough. A man is helping her.

Old ridges, Mullet.

Stooks of oats, containing up to 20 sheaves, were carried by pony or ass to the haggard and made up into stacks of between 50 and 60 stooks. The stack rested on a circle of tree branches and stones about 1.50m in diameter and was built to a height of almost 3m. Furze (whin) thorns and, on occasion, sheep dip were added to the foundation to discourage rats. The stack was thatched with hay and rushes and roped with the eave of its conical top projecting about 150mm beyond the base.

Old ridges, Mullet.

Old (bi-furcated) spade ridges, Mullet.

Packie Connell in his forge in Belmullet.

Turf-strands, Termon Hill, Mullet.

The hardy Connemara pony once provided the only means of transporting heavy load-stones, manure and harvested crops about the island. Almost every household kept a pony, generally a mare, as the sale of a foal was an added source of income. Unlike the donkey, the pony is a long-time inhabitant of the island. In 1900 there were 70 ponies and 26 asses kept on Clare Island. In 1925 these numbers had risen to 95 ponies and 69 asses but had dropped again to 46 and 59 respectively by 1960.

Sally garden, Ceathrú Thaidhg.

Rundale, Faulagh.

Rundale, Faulagh.

Poll fataí.

Sally garden, Ceathrú Thaidhg.

Rundale, Faulagh.

Cornstack, Ros Dúch.

Turf cleat (turf stand), Knockmore, Clare Island. Pat Ewen (Dublin) in picture.