Set along Ireland’s West Coast, the mountainous Clare Island stands guard over the entrance to the glittering Clew Bay in County Mayo. It is renowned for being the ancestral home of the legendary pirate queen Grainne O'Malley, famous in the 16th century, and for being the largest and arguably most beautiful of the 300 islands which dot the bay (it has even been dubbed ‘The Gem of the Western Isles’). The island offers visitors an array of activities, including hiking or cycling along the dramatic sea cliffs, enjoying an Irish music session and a pint of beer at a local pub, or discovering the rare arctic-alpine flora, and wildlife which includes large colonies of seabirds. History enthusiasts can explore a variety of megalithic tombs and medieval promontory forts, which sit perched at the top of the cliffs overlooking the ocean.