This wonderful place on the most tranquil and least visited of the Aran Islands group was our Newcomer of the Year in 2008, after it first opened as a restaurant with rooms in 2007, and it has since earned an international reputation as one of Ireland's most desirable destinations.
At their famed Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites, island native Ruairi de Blacam and his wife, Marie-Thérèse, originally offered a unique, mainly residential, dining experience in a beautiful modern restaurant with stylish suites. Then, after fifteen years, came a change of direction following the purchase of a very special island farm.
This moved them into an exciting new phase, offering longer Inis Meáin Island Stays and replacing the restaurant with a deli service to ensure supplies of delicious food and wine - and still with panoramic views of the island, Galway Bay, and Connemara...
Importantly, these changes are enabling the couple to take up the mantle of also running Ruairi’s parents’ world-famous Inis Meáin Knitting Company (inismeain.ie), the main employer on this fascinatingly beautiful and remote island.
Inis Meáin offers the best of Ireland in one easily explored island – unparalleled natural beauty, culture, and history in a living community.
Ruairi and Marie-Thérèse are now caring for almost 100 acres of the island's unique Burren-landscape terrain, by breeding and grazing up to a dozen cattle, and keeping native bees, in addition to their existing hens and vegetable growing.
The farm, whose fields stretch like a broken chain along a line from the North coast to the South coast of the island, is at the core of their new hospitality offering - which continues to include wonderfully spacious contemporary accommodation and a focus on an immersive away-from-it all guest experience. Fishing rods, bicycles and books of interest are provided instead of TV to help guests discover the peace and quiet of the island.
As always, a visit here is sure to be a memorable experience. Simply magic.
