Greenisland Rock

Greenisland Rock is a small rocky islet in Strangford Lough, County Down, about 1.8 kilometres from Ringhaddy, in the western part of the lough. It covers about 3.3 acres.

Landscape

It is one of the lough’s many small rocks and pladdies, low reefs and islets that stand among the drumlins, uncovered and covered again by the tides. The western shore of the lough is the most island-studded, a maze of drumlins, pladdies and sheltered channels between Whiterock, Ringhaddy and Killinchy, close to Nendrum Monastery on Mahee Island and the tower house on Sketrick Island. Its nearest neighbours include Parton Island, Strangford Lough, Green Island, Ringhaddy and Great Minnis’s Island.

More about Greenisland Rock

Its name describes its grassy cover. Strangford Lough holds at least seventy islands and many more islets, and their names, a mix of Irish, Norse, Scots and English, record centuries of farming, fishing and seafaring around its shores.

Visiting

There is no public access to Greenisland Rock, but it can be seen from the shore and from boats and kayaks on the lough. The tides run fast and the mud can be soft, so take local advice before heading out on the water, and keep clear of seals and nesting birds. You can collect Greenisland Rock as a sighting in your Island Passport.

Wildlife and area

Strangford Lough is a Marine Nature Reserve and one of the richest wildlife sites in Ireland. Around this part of the lough look out for Harbour Seal, Common Tern, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron and Eurasian Otter. In winter around three quarters of the world’s pale-bellied brent geese feed on the lough’s mudflats.