| The Saltees | |
| Native Name: | Oileán an tSalainn |
| Location: | Atlantic Ocean |
| Total Islands: | 2 |
| Major Islands: | Great Saltee, Little Saltee |
| Area Km2: | 1.2 |
| Country: | Ireland |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | County |
| Country Admin Divisions: | Wexford |
| Population: | 2 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
The Saltee Islands (Irish: Oileán an tSalainn; Old Norse: Salt ey [1]) are a pair of small islands lying 5 kilometres off the southern coast of County Wexford in Ireland. The two islands are Great Saltee (89 hectares) and Little Saltee (37 hectares). They have been largely unoccupied since the early 20th century and have been privately owned by the Neale family since 1943. Together, the islands cover an area of 1.2 square kilometres.
The islands are a breeding ground for fulmar, gannet, shag, kittiwake, guillemot, razorbill, puffin and grey seal. An area surrounding both islands and extending approximately off shore was granted the status of a Special Protection Area to protect the bird habitat.[2] The islands are also at the centre of a related Special Area of Conservation, named after them,[3] which extends to the mainland coastline east of Kilmore Quay. The conservation area specifically addresses: the mud and sand flats on the mainland coastline as well as those surrounding the mainland facing sides of Little Saltee; large shallow inlets and bays to the west of an imaginary line joining Kilmore Quay and Great Saltee; reefs throughout the entire area; the vegetated sea cliffs which surround both islands; sea caves along the south coast of Great Saltee and the entire area as a grey seal habitat with specific reference to both islands as important sites, including for breeding, along with some areas further out also of interest as moult and resting haul-out sites.[4]
The islands are based on Pre-Cambrian bedrock between 600 million and 2 billion years old.[5] The highest point in the Saltees is South Summit on Great Saltee at 198 feet (60 metres). The waters around the islands can be treacherous, hence the area is known as the "Graveyard of a Thousand Ships and the islands their tombstones".
While there may have been earlier occupation on Great Saltee, and an Ogham stone is recorded as being found on the island,[6] [7] the first written record of the island dates to, when Hervey de Montmorency is recorded as granting the islands to Christchurch, Canterbury.[8] The islands were subsequently granted to the monks of Tintern Abbey and the "two islands of Salteye" are mentioned in Tintern charters dated to 1245.[8] The northeastern point of Great Saltee (closest to the mainland) was historically known known as "Abbey Point" and ruined buildings close to it sometimes associated with a "religious house". A nearby field is marked in some maps as "Abbey Field".[9]
By the 16th century, the islands had been leased by John Isham of Bryanstown.[8] They were subsequently acquired by the Grogan-Morgan family of Johnstown Castle.[9] Following the Battle of New Ross in 1798, the United Irishman commander, Bagenal Harvey, fled to Great Saltee. However he was betrayed and arrested and executed in Wexford town.[10] The Grogan-Morgans, who were in posession of the islands as of 1837,[11] leased the islands to several families associated with nearby Kilmore Quay.[9] According to A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, published by Samuel Lewis in 1837, there were then approximately 20 inhabitants on Great Saltee and Little Saltee was "inhabited by a family consisting of three persons".[11] The islands, which were largely abandoned by the early 20th century, contain a number of (mainly 19th century) ruins.[9]
Michael Neale, originally of Kilmore Quay, purchased Great Saltee in the 1940s.[12] The Neale family, who still own the island,[13] built a number of small commemorative structures on Great Saltee.[14] [15] While the Neale family are periodically in residence on Great Saltee, it is otherwise largely unoccupied.[12]