Xx INTRODUCTION. 
considerable size. Much the largest is Valencia Island, 7 miles 
long by 2 broad, and rising to nearly 900 feet on its northern 
side and to 800 near its western extremity. This island, 
however, may be regarded rather as a fragment of the main- 
land since the intervening channel is very narrow, having at 
some points a breadth of barely 300 yards. More truly insular 
are the Blasket Isles lying off the western extremity of the 
Dingle peninsula, some 12 miles north-west of Valencia. This 
little archipelago consists of 6 islands with about a 100 islets 
and rocks. The largest of the islands, the Great Blasket, is 
a long narrow ridge nearly 4 miles in length and accessible 
only at its eastern extremity. Although its greatest width is 
little over half a mile, it rises to 961 feet and presents a fine 
range of cliffs along its northern face. Its area of 1,132 acres 
is mostly rough heathery pasture, and the population in 191] 
was 160. Next in size to the Great Blasket come Inishtooskert 
and Inishvickillane each a mile long and Inishnabro with an 
area of 125 acres. All three are uninhabited and all approach 
600 feet in height. Tearaght with its lighthouse, the most 
western of the group, is barely half the size of Inishnabro yet 
rises to 602 feet and forms a most imposing cone of rock. 
In Kenmare Bay are several islands of which Rossmore, 
Rossdohan, Garinish and Sherky, ranging in area from 337 to 
60 acres, may be mentioned, the last three are well known to 
visitors to Parknasilla. To the north-west of this Bay are 
Deenish and Scariff, the latter a finely shaped island of about 
360 acres rising to 839 feet. Still farther north and remarkable 
for their form and antiquarian remains are the Skelligs, rather 
sea stacks than islands. They lie off Bolus Head and are from 
6 to 8 miles from the mainland. The Great Skellig with an 
area of only 44 acres and little more than a quarter of a mile 
in its longest diameter attains to a height of 714 feet. Its 
striking outline has been compared to a spired cathedral or 
to a ship in full sail, while its bee-hive cells and other remains 
are amongst the most interesting in Ireland. Like the 
Tearaght, the Great Skellig has a lighthouse. The Litile 
Skellig, 2 miles nearer the mainland, is also of bold outline. 
With an area of only 16 acres it rises to a height of 440 feet. 
North of these lie Puffin Island close to the mainland, and 
Beginish which helps to inclose Valencia Harbour, both are 
about a mile in longest diameter. 
Last of the Kerry islands worthy of mention are the Seven. 
Hogs or Magharee Islands lying north of the Castlegregory 
sandhills. They are small and low-lying, and only one, Ilaun- 
tannig of 36 acres, is inhabited. 
