Omey Island In Connemara: The Tides, A Map + Attractions

Located just 20 minutes from Clifden in the heart of Connemara, Omey Island is a tidal island cut off twice daily by the Atlantic.

When the tide is low, a vast sandy strand appears, letting walkers and drivers cross to the island. When the tide returns, the strand vanishes beneath the sea.

It’s for this reason that it is absolutely crucial that you understand the Omey Island tides before you set off on your journey.

Omey Island visitor information

A visit to Omey Island in Galway isn’t overly straightforward, if you don’t do a little bit of research in advance.

1. How to Get to Omey Island

To access Omey Island, head for the Wild Atlantic Way discovery point (here on Maps). There’s a small parking area here for those of you planning to walk:

• Driving to the island: You can drive across the strand at low tide by following the pole markers embedded in the sand. The drive takes 3–5 minutes
• Walking to the island: Park up walk across the same route. It’s about a 15-minute stroll

2. Understanding the Omey Island tide times

In order to get to the island safely, you need to understand the Omey Island tide times. There are 2 options:

• For those used to reading tide times: You can check websites like Tides Charts
• For those that are unsure: Drop into Sweeny’s Bar – the folks here are well used to the Omey tides (drop in after for a great lunch!)

3. Timing your visit

If you’re planning to walk the full loop of Omey Island (roughly 8km, taking 1-2 hours), make sure you start as early as possible within the low-tide window. This gives you plenty of buffer in case the weather turns or you take longer than expected. The strand crossing becomes unsafe quickly once the tide shifts. Once it’s covered, you’re stuck until the next low tide, which could be 8+ hours away.

4. Camping

If you fancy basing yourself nearby, Clifden Eco Beach is one of the best places to stay in Connemara, and it’s just a 12-minute drive from the island. You can also rent a tipi tent from them for something really unique. See our guide to camping in Galway for loads more options.

The Omey Island Walk

If you’re on foot, you can head off on a stroll around Omey Island. This is one of the less popular of the many Galway walks, but it packs a punch.

Once you’ve crossed the strand, the Omey Island walk kicks off immediately. The full loop is around 8km, and while it’s not a difficult trail, timing is everything – you’ll need to be back on the mainland before the tide returns.

Most visitors begin by turning right along the shoreline after reaching the island. The trail passes a weathered graveyard, still in use today, and winds past eroding banks where prehistoric middens (piles of ancient shells and food waste) have begun to emerge.

Continue along the north coast, keeping the Atlantic to your right, and you’ll eventually reach the remnants of Feichin’s Church, once buried beneath centuries of sand.

Further west, you’ll pass Feichin’s Holy Well, tucked into a grassy rise above the sea. From here, loop inland to Fahy Lake, where swans and sea birds often gather, before picking up the quiet island road.

This takes you back toward Omey Beach, with panoramic views of the Twelve Bens and the distant isles of Turbot and Inishturk. Allow at least 1-2 hours for the full loop, and give yourself plenty of buffer before the tide turns.

Things to do nearby

Personally, I think the best way to explore the area is either on this Connemara itinerary, if you have 2 days, or via the Connemara Loop outlined on the map above:

There are endless things to do in Connemara, including:

1. The Sky Road: Starting from Clifden Town, this 16km route is one of the best drives in Ireland
2. Kylemore Abbey: Located right on the shore of Lough Pollacappul, this is one of Ireland’s top attractions
3. Diamond Hill: One of Ireland’s finest hikes, in the heart of Connemara National Park
4. Dog’s Bay Beach: Connemara’s best beach. A great addition to any Galway road trip.