i4Life Inis Oirr Famine Walk

What to Expect

The i4Life Famine Walk is a 5km community walk on Inis Oirr, the smallest of the three Aran Islands, on Saturday 5 September 2026. It sets off from Pairc Peile at 2:00 PM and takes about an hour. The famine walk is a recognised form of Irish commemorative fundraising, marking the routes people covered on foot during the worst years of the nineteenth century, and holding one on an Atlantic island gives it a particular setting. i4Life run it to raise money for their projects in Zambia.

The route is open to all ages and abilities rather than being pitched at experienced walkers, and there is tea and a scone for everyone at the finish. Inis Oirr is small enough that a 5km loop covers a good portion of the island, taking in the stone-walled fields and the coastline that give the Aran Islands their character. Weather on the islands turns quickly even in early September, so waterproofs and shoes with grip are worth having regardless of the forecast on the mainland.

Good to Know

• Date and time: Saturday 5 September 2026, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
• Start point: Pairc Peile, Inis Oirr, Aran Islands.
• Distance: 5km, open to all ages and abilities.
• Tea and a scone for all participants after the walk.
• Registration fee was not published at the time of writing. Check the Eventbrite listing.
• Refunds are available up to seven days before the event. Organised by i4Life.

Getting There

Inis Oirr is reached by ferry from Ros a Mhil in Connemara, roughly 40 minutes’ drive west of Galway city on the R336, or by the shorter crossing from Doolin in County Clare. Aer Arann Islands also fly to the island from the airstrip at Indreabhan. Sailing times vary by season and by operator, so book the crossing before you commit to the walk and allow a comfortable margin either side of the 2:00 PM start. There are no cars for visitors on the island: everything is done on foot, by bicycle hired at the pier, or by pony and trap. Pairc Peile is a short walk from the harbour.