Rathlin O'Birne Island is a tiny rocky island located in the North Atlantic Ocean a mile west of Malin Beg Head on the west coast of Ireland. It offers an anchorage north of the islands southeast corner with the opportunity of a dinghy landing at steps on the east side of the island, or on to a stoney beach in a sheltered bay in the northeast.
The shelter at the recommended anchorage is generally tolerable but is dependent on favourable weather and tidal conditions, whilst the daylight access requires attentive navigation taking care to avoid unchartered rocks and a rocky shoal.
Keyfacts for Rathlin O'Birne Island
Last modified
May 30th 2017 Summary* Restrictions apply
A tolerable location with attentive navigation required for access.Facilities
None listedNature
Considerations
Position and approaches
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Haven position
54° 39.868' N, 008° 49.430' Wthis is the position at the landing steps on the east side of the island.
What is the initial fix?
The following Rathlin O will set up a final approach:
54° 41.097' N, 008° 49.322' W 
Not what you need?
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Below are the ten nearest havens to Rathlin O'Birne Island for your convenience.
Ten nearest havens by straight line charted distance and bearing:
- Malin Beg Bay - 1.3 nautical miles E
- White Strand Bay - 1.7 nautical miles E
- Glen Bay - 3.7 nautical miles NE
- Teelin - 7.1 nautical miles ESE
- Killybegs - 13.4 nautical miles E
- Dawros Bay - 13.9 nautical miles NE
- Inishmurray - 15.2 nautical miles SSE
- Church Pool & Portnoo - 17 nautical miles NE
- Mullaghmore - 17.7 nautical miles SE
- Brown Bay - 20.8 nautical miles SSE
These havens are ordered by straight line charted distance and bearing, and can be reordered by compass direction or coastal sequence:
- Malin Beg Bay - 1.3 miles E
- White Strand Bay - 1.7 miles E
- Glen Bay - 3.7 miles NE
- Teelin - 7.1 miles ESE
- Killybegs - 13.4 miles E
- Dawros Bay - 13.9 miles NE
- Inishmurray - 15.2 miles SSE
- Church Pool & Portnoo - 17 miles NE
- Mullaghmore - 17.7 miles SE
- Brown Bay - 20.8 miles SSE
How to get in?
The 'Erris Head to Malin Head' coastal description provides approach information to the suggested initial fix. Vessels approaching from the south should select the northeast bound 
sequenced description; vessels approaching from the north should select the southwest bound sequence; western approaches may use either description.Why visit here?
Rathlin O’Birne is a small uninhabited low-lying grassy island with a lighthouse, indented all round with channels, and bisected by a sea arch in its northern part. It is also the westernmost point of County Donegal and should not be confused with the Rathlin Island off the coast of County Antrim.It is not clear how the island came by its name, but it appears to have been associated with someone or some group (clan) named Birn, but there are no official records to confirm whether or not they were locals or came from elsewhere in Ireland. One historical fact is clear, that Saint Patrick's coppersmith and the first Bishop of Elfin, Saint Asicus, came to Rathlin O'Birne Island where he lived as a hermit for seven years until some monks came and rescued him.
Rathlin O'Birne Sound, the deep water passage on the east side of the island, has a navigable width of 0.5 mile between the mainland and the island and is the normal entrance from the north into Donegal Bay. In the Sound the tide runs north strongly for nine hours out of twelve and runs south weakly for the other three, but it is not strong. The bold promontory comprising Malin Beg and Malin More Heads, despite its position and exposure, is one of the less challenging of the western headlands.
What facilities are available?
There are no facilities at this location.With thanks to:
inyourfootsteps.com site research. Photography with thanks to Carsten Clasohm, Tobias Senger and Ben Brooksbank
About Rathlin O'Birne Island
Rathlin O’Birne is a small uninhabited low-lying grassy island with a lighthouse, indented all round with channels, and bisected by a sea arch in its northern part. It is also the westernmost point of County Donegal and should not be confused with the Rathlin Island off the coast of County Antrim.
It is not clear how the island came by its name, but it appears to have been associated with someone or some group (clan) named Birn, but there are no official records to confirm whether or not they were locals or came from elsewhere in Ireland. One historical fact is clear, that Saint Patrick's coppersmith and the first Bishop of Elfin, Saint Asicus, came to Rathlin O'Birne Island where he lived as a hermit for seven years until some monks came and rescued him.
Rathlin O'Birne Sound, the deep water passage on the east side of the island, has a navigable width of 0.5 mile between the mainland and the island and is the normal entrance from the north into Donegal Bay. In the Sound the tide runs north strongly for nine hours out of twelve and runs south weakly for the other three, but it is not strong. The bold promontory comprising Malin Beg and Malin More Heads, despite its position and exposure, is one of the less challenging of the western headlands.
Other options in this area
Click the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons to progress through neighbouring havens in a coastal 'clockwise' or 'anti-clockwise' sequence. Alternatively here are the ten nearest havens available in picture view:
Coastal clockwise:
Glen Bay - 2.3 miles NEDawros Bay - 8.6 miles NE
Church Pool & Portnoo - 10.5 miles NE
Burtonport - 14.4 miles NE
Rutland Harbour & Island - 14.2 miles NNE
Coastal anti-clockwise:
Malin Beg Bay - 0.8 miles EWhite Strand Bay - 1 miles E
Teelin - 4.4 miles ESE
Killybegs - 8.3 miles E
Donegal Town Harbour - 13.4 miles E
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