Inis-meainHow long has the island been inhabited? Archeological evidence abounds and shows that there were people living on this island probably as early as 700BC. The island boasts two impressive stone forts and countless minor antiquities. Sadly few of these reveal exact times of construction and there is little documentation to support most historical theories.
What does the name mean? Translated from the Irish "Inis" means "Island" and "Meáin" means "middle" so it is widely accepted that the name means "Middle Island"
The Ordinace Survey of Ireland charted the islands in the early part of the 19th century and it was then that the neighbouring island of Inis Mór received its name - prior to that it was called Arainn (the reason for the new name was put down to the fact that the island of Aráinn in Donegal had been chartered some years earlier and two islands of the same name were not desirable fo navigational and militray reasons). It is quite probable that the name Inis Meáin also dates from this period as there are no records to tell what it was known as prior to that. It is quite possible that the island was originally named for Mannann Mac Lir (the Celtic god of the sea) who alos lent his name to the Isle of Mann in the Irish Sea.
Inhabitants - the fact that the surnames Flaherty and Faherty are common amongst the islanders show that the island was populated in the 14th century (at the latest) by the Lords of Connemara.
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