What's the story here?

The Saltee Islands of the Great and Little Saltee are situated approximately 4 miles off the coast of Kilmore Quay, County Wexford. They are privately owned but have been largely unoccupied since the early 20th century. Great Saltee Island lies about 3¼ miles from Kilmore Quay, has an area of about 87ha (215 acres) and is wedge-shaped. The island ascends from a low shore on its northern mainland side to 20- to 30-metre-high cliffs on its southeastern side. The southern summit rises to an altitude of 58 metres, its highest point.

The Saltees are a haven for an impressive array of seabirds, from gannets and gulls to puffins and Manx shearwaters. The islands also lie on an important migratory route and are a popular stopping-off place for spring and autumn migrants. In addition to its birdlife, Great Saltee has a breeding population of grey seals, one of the very few in eastern Ireland. Up to 120 are present in autumn and as many as 20 pups are born here annually. All of this combines to make it a Special Area of Conservation and a very popular destination for day-trippers and birdwatchers alike.

Tucked in to the southwest of Great Saltee, Georgina’s Bay is adjacent to the island’s largest concentration of birds, one of the most famous bird sanctuaries in Ireland. It has a landing beach at low water, but there is no ascent available up its steep cliffs to the island. This is only possible at the landing beach anchorage on the opposite side.

How to get in?

Offshore details are available in southeastern Ireland’s coastal overview for Rosslare Harbour to Cork Harbour and the Kilmore Quay entry provides approach directions for this haven. Those planning to cruise this area should study the ‘Additional notes for the Saltee Islands’ set out in the Rosslare Harbour to Cork Harbour overview. A sharp lookout should always be kept for lobster pots in and around the Kilmore Quay area.

Vessels approaching the islands from the far south should note the positions of the Coningbeg Rock, Coningmore Rocks, the Brandies and the area’s offshore shoals and shallows. Close approaches from directly south of the waypoint into Georgina’s Bay are clear.




If approaching from Kilmore Quay, come out keeping the transits in-line astern to the safe water mark. From here it is possible to round either side of Great Saltee to approach its southern anchorages. The bay tends towards the west side of the island and vessels may freely round Great Saltee to the west or east to approach the anchorage. Rounding the island to the west is slightly longer but presents a more open-water approach and fewer off-lying dangers to contend with. The eastern Saltee Sound path is much shorter but involves a degree of pilotage to sidestep some unmarked dangers.




Vessels planning to round the island to the west should strike out due west from the safe water mark to clear Murroch’s Rock and Jackeen Rock, and stand well clear of Great Saltee Island’s northwest corner as there are dangerous rocks offshore here.




When rounding Great Saltee Island’s southwest corner, known as Seven Heads, make particular note of Shoal Rock. It lies 300 metres offshore with depths of 10 metres between it and the mainland. Shoal Rock may, therefore, be passed on either side, ie either well offshore, or between the rock and the island.

Shoal Rock – position: 52° 06.119’N, 006° 37.805’W



Vessels choosing to pass around Great Saltee Island’s eastern side, through Saltee Sound and between Great Saltee and Little Saltee, should again make note of Murroch’s Rock and Jackeen Rock at the outset, plus Goose Rock and Galgee Rocks, off Little Island, when in the Sound. Likewise, the Sebbar Bridge, a ridge extending off the northeast end of Great Island, is the eastern danger of the Sound.



Murroch’s Rock and Jackeen Rock are best avoided by favouring the east side of a direct path, along the western side of Little Saltee. Keeping within the island’s 2- to 4-metre contours until the midpoint of the island is achieved clears these dangers. The unnamed Privateer Rock, clearly marked on the charts ½ mile west of the centre of Little Saltee Island, has 3 metres of cover and should present no difficulty for leisure craft.


This course keeps a vessel well east of Murroch’s Rock, awash at low water, which lies just under ¾ mile to the northwest of Little Saltee Island.

Murrock’s Rock – position: 52° 08.753’N, 006° 35.919’W

It also clears Jackeen Rock, with 1.5 metres of cover, situated just over a mile west by southwest of the north tip of Little Saltee Island.

Jackeen Rock – position: 52° 08.438’N, 006° 36.722’W

At about the midpoint of the Little Saltee Island, or when Goose Rock has been identified ahead, it is safe to come out from the island to approach the middle of Saltee Sound.

Saltee Sound has depths in the fairway from 8 to 10 metres. However, it is reduced to a width of 600 metres between the foul ground extending west from Little Saltee and the Sebber Bridge, which runs off from the north end of Great Saltee. The dangers of the Sound are Goose, Galgee and the aforementioned Sebbar Rocks.




The Goose is a half-tide rock that dries to 2.6 metres, located 200 metres from the southwest point of Little Saltee. An off-lying portion lying 15 metres to the southwest of Goose Rock just shows its head.

Goose Rock – position: 52° 08.042’N, 006° 35.546’W

Galgee Rock – position: 52° 07.869’N, 006° 35.228’W



When passing around the southeast of the island, keep well off the corner to avoid ‘Sunken Rock of Makeston’, which lies awash 200 metres to the southwest of Makeston Rock.

Sunken Rock of Makeston – position: 52° 06.853’N, 006° 36.419’W




There are many visible pinnacle rocks fringing the eastern side of Georgina’s Bay, separating it from Gilert Bay. Local boatmen do pass between the rocks, but it is advised that strangers pass south of these.




Approach the bay from the initial fix or in clear water due south of the described waypoint. The anchorage is adjacent to the highest point of the Saltees, which is the 60-metre (198ft) south summit.




Anchor in sand. There is plenty of swinging room and the bay accommodates up to half a dozen yachts. The head of the bay may offer either a sand or shingle beach to land upon at low water, depending on the previous month’s heavy weather conditions.

Why visit here?

Although gaining some popularity as a result of its posting here, visitors are still most likely to have this beautiful hidden gem of a bay all to themselves.



It is truly a lovely, secluded place to land a dinghy and let the family loose to swim. Likewise, it is possible to let the children off in the dinghy to explore the old smuggler sea caves nearby.




For those who want to take it easy, there is no better place to drop the hook, sit back in the cockpit and enjoy the wealth of hallmark Saltee birdlife on the surrounding cliffs. The calling sounds from the nesting birds make for the most spectacular soundtrack.




Puffins are directly above and, in early summer, a burgeoning Gannet colony resides just above Seven Heads, immediately west of the bay. Breeding seals also frequent the south side of the island, particularly so in neighbouring Gilert Bay.




The single point to note about the island’s southern anchorages is that the cliffs are steep here. Although it is possible to alight upon their enclosed beaches at low water, it is not possible to get up to and explore the island from either of these anchorages. The main landing beach, on the north side of the island, should be used for those who wish to come ashore and explore.

What facilities are available?

There are no facilities on the Saltee Islands. Immediately ashore, Kilmore Quay has all facilities. Depending on the previous year’s heavy weather conditions, the beach may consist of shale or sand.

Any security concerns?

Security issues are unheard of on the Saltee Islands. In fact, if anything the reverse is more likely to be encountered. Local boatmen are very welcoming and you can take it that they will by good nature keep an eye on the welfare of your vessel, should she drag whilst you are ashore, and be ready to assist you.

With thanks to:

Burke Corbett, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Photographs with thanks to Michael Harpur and Burke Corbett.