Overview
Gola, or Gabhla (Irish: Oileán Ghabhla), lies off the Gweedore coast in County Donegal. The island has sandy shores, granite cliffs and stone cottages left by earlier generations. Part of what draws day-trippers is that history: the last permanent families left in the 1960s, and it was 2002 before anyone moved back.
The island has rolling western slopes, pink-granite outcrops, sandy shores and a small freshwater lake at the centre. Allow a few hours for the crossing and the loop, and treat the weather as part of the plan.
A living piece of history
Long before it became a day-trip, Gola was a working maritime community. Kitchen middens near the central lake point to prehistoric visitors, but the most visible legacy dates to the 19th century. By the 1840s families were farming the coastal soil and running a herring fishery, and the 1846 stone schoolhouse once taught up to 70 children in Irish and English. The island supported its own fishery and school well into the last century.
A memorial stone by the shore, Leac Cuimhneacháin an Asgard, records the island’s link to two of the crew of the Asgard. The 1960s brought the tipping point: the school closed, younger people left for the mainland, and the stone cottages were given over to the weather. A revival in the early 2000s reversed it, as volunteers restored traditional longhouses and the island began to welcome visitors again.
Getting there
Discover Ireland lists a seasonal passenger ferry from Magheragallan. Confirm the departure pier, sailing and return with the ferry operator before travelling, and book ahead. Ask about boarding if you need assistance. Check what is available on the island before you go, and bring water and food.
Walking and exploring
Sport Ireland lists Slí Ghabhla as an easy 2.7 km loop from the island pier. Follow yellow arrows on a black background through the eastern side and centre of the island. The route passes cottages and the lake. Dogs are prohibited. Keep to the marked route and stay back from cliffs and the water.
Wear boots you do not mind getting muddy, as paths soften quickly after rain. For the background, look for the island’s information centre, An Teach Beag, and check locally whether it is open.
Birds and the coast
Around the lake and the western cliffs you may see seabirds such as cormorants, razorbills, guillemots, gannets and kittiwakes. Early mornings are best, when the cliffs are quiet and the low light brings out the colour in the granite. Keep well back from cliff edges and do not approach the sea-arch or shoreline.
Nearby
To pair the trip with another island, Arranmore Island is the logical second stop, with its own lighthouse trails and coastal walks.