Inch Island's history stretches back over 7,000 years. Every acre of the island has a story to tell, from prehistoric burial sites to medieval castles, from Napoleonic-era forts to Victorian land reclamation projects that transformed the landscape we see today.

The Inch Heritage Digital Archive

The most comprehensive resource on Inch Island's history is the Inch Heritage website, created through the CINE Project (Connected Culture and Natural Heritage in a Northern Environment).

The CINE Project was a collaborative digital heritage initiative between partners from Norway, Iceland, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. For its Donegal case study, the team chose Inch Island, drawn by its rich history, maritime heritage, and small but engaged community.

What You'll Find at Inch Heritage

The digital archive covers the complete history of Inch Island:

Prehistoric Era

• Mesolithic Period (c. 7000 BCE) – Evidence of early human habitation, including flint tools found at Eleven Ballyboes
• Bronze and Iron Ages – Ring forts, standing stones, burial sites, and gold artefacts
• The King's Grave at Carnaghan – legendary burial site

Medieval Period

• Grianán of Aileach – The ancient royal seat visible from Inch
• O'Doherty's Castle – Built around 1430, sketched by British military engineer William Smith
• Dunfinn Ring Fort – Iron Age fortification on the island

Early Modern Era (1500s-1700s)

• The Nine Years War and its impact on the region
• The Flight of the Earls (1607)
• Plantation settlement
• The Siege of Derry (1689) and Kirke's encampment on Inch

Georgian & Victorian Periods

• Inch Fort – Napoleonic-era coastal defence, later modernised
• The Sloblands Reclamation – Victorian engineering that transformed the island's landscape
• The Railway – The Derry to Letterkenny line that once crossed the island
• Herring fishing, flax cultivation, and lime kiln industries

20th Century

• Fort rearmament and military history
• Community changes through the decades

The Island's Transformation

Perhaps the most remarkable story is how the island itself changed. If you stand at the Pump House car park today, 200 years ago you'd have been either stuck in mud or underwater. The farmland around the Inch Wildfowl Reserve was reclaimed from the sea over 160 years ago through ambitious Victorian engineering.

Three embankments were constructed in the mid-19th century: the Tready, Farland, and Inch embankments. This reclaimed land became some of the richest agricultural land in Donegal, while the sheltered waters behind the embankments created the wetland habitat that now attracts thousands of wintering birds.

Research Resources

If you're interested in researching your own Inch Island connections or diving deeper into the island's history, the CINE project identified key archives and resources:

• Irish Census Records – 1901 Census and 1911 Census (free online)
• Donegal County Archives – Local records collection
• Dúchas Schools Collection – Folklore and stories collected from schoolchildren in the 1930s, including entries about Inch Fort, local field names, and traditional tales
• PRONI (Public Record Office Northern Ireland) – Records of Protestant landowners
• UK National Archives – British administrative records pre-1922

Two local genealogy enthusiasts, Tina Porter and Georgina Robinson, have extensive knowledge of Inch family histories and are happy to help with research. Contact details are available on the Inch Heritage Research page.

Coming Soon

We're working on articles exploring specific aspects of Inch Island's history, including:

• Glack House – The historic residence on the island
• Inch Fort – From Napoleonic defences to 20th century rearmament
• O'Doherty's Castle – Medieval seat of the O'Doherty clan
• The Sloblands Reclamation – How Victorian engineering created new land

In the meantime, we highly recommend exploring the Inch Heritage archive for the full story.

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Know something about Inch Island's history that should be shared? Get in touch with your stories, photos, or local knowledge.