The Remote Irish Island That Has Kept Its Own King for a Thousand Years

Tory Island sits nine miles off the Donegal coast, cut off from the mainland by Atlantic storms for days at a stretch. The Irish government once drew up plans to move everyone out. The islanders said no — and kept their own king.

A Title That Has Outlasted Empires

The king of Tory Island is not appointed by Dublin. There is no ceremony involving crowns or clergy. The islanders elect their own rí — a word that has meant “king” in Irish since before Christianity reached these shores.

The role is largely ceremonial, but it carries real weight. The king acts as a cultural ambassador. He speaks for the island to the outside world. For nearly forty years, that role belonged to Patsy Dan Rodgers — a painter, accordion player, and natural host who met every ferry that docked at the pier.

He would play a few bars on the quayside. He would offer a word or two in Irish or English. When Patsy Dan died in 2018, tributes came from across Ireland and well beyond. His portrait hangs in several galleries. His name is still spoken on the island with great warmth.

The Evacuation the Islanders Refused

In the 1970s, the Irish government proposed moving Tory Island’s entire population to the mainland. Storms had battered the island badly. Supply routes were severed for weeks at a time. Officials cited the lack of proper infrastructure as reason enough to close the island permanently.

The islanders refused. They organised. They wrote letters. A local priest, Father Diarmuid Ó Péicín, campaigned tirelessly on their behalf. After a sustained fight, the government backed down. Investment followed — electricity, improved facilities, and a reliable ferry service from the Donegal coast.

Today, around 130 people live on Tory year-round. The island is part of Ireland’s Gaeltacht — its Irish-speaking heartland. The language you are most likely to hear on the streets is Irish, not English.

The Cursing Stones of Tory

Tory Island appears in some of the oldest stories in Irish mythology. It was said to be the stronghold of the Fomorians — a dark race who clashed with the gods of ancient Ireland. The island’s Irish name, Toraigh, is thought to come from a word meaning “tower” or “rocky place”.

At the island’s western end stand the cursing stones — a set of ancient rocks with a fearsome reputation. Local tradition holds that turning them with the right intent could bring misfortune on an enemy. Sailors once refused to pass Tory without paying proper respect.

Nobody on the island treats the stones lightly. Whether or not you believe in their power, they have been standing there — and being taken seriously — for a very long time.

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The School of Painting Nobody Expected

In the 1950s, an English artist named Derek Hill began visiting Tory regularly. He was captivated by the light, the landscape, and the people. One afternoon, a local fisherman named James Dixon watched Hill at work and remarked that he could do the same. Hill painted — and Hill handed him a brush.

Dixon painted his first picture that day. More islanders followed. Their style was raw, vivid, and completely untrained — a form of naive art rooted in what they saw around them every day. This became known as the Tory Island School of painting.

Their work now hangs in galleries across Ireland and beyond. The island the government once tried to empty had quietly produced one of the most celebrated folk art movements in Irish history.

How to Reach Tory Island

Tory Island is reachable by ferry from Magheroarty pier, near Bunbeg in County Donegal. The crossing takes around forty-five minutes in calm weather. The ferry does not always run — Atlantic storms have the final word on that.

An overnight stay is worth it if you can manage it. The pace of life is unlike anywhere else in Ireland. Mobile reception is patchy. The island sits at the heart of Ireland’s Irish-speaking coastline, where the old language has held on in ways that still surprise visitors.

Tory is not a comfortable destination in the resort sense. But comfort is not the point. The island is one of the last places in Ireland where life is lived on its own terms — where the ferry schedule is the least of your worries if the weather turns.

A king still greets the ferries. The cursing stones still stand. The painters still paint. And Tory Island still makes its own rules. If you are putting together a wider Ireland trip, start with our Ireland planning guide to make the most of every stop.

Secure Your Dream Irish Experience Before It’s Gone!

Planning a trip to Ireland? Don’t let sold-out tours or packed attractions spoil your journey. Iconic experiences like visiting the Cliffs of Moher, exploring the Rock of Cashel, or enjoying a guided walk through Ireland’s ancient past often sell out quickly—especially during peak travel seasons.

Booking in advance guarantees your place and ensures you can fully immerse yourself in the rich culture and breathtaking scenery without stress or disappointment. You’ll also free up time to explore Ireland’s hidden gems and savour those authentic moments that make your trip truly special.

Make the most of your journey—start planning today and secure those must-do experiences before they’re gone!