The coastguard station and the lighthouse, whose predecessor has warned seafarers from the islands shores since 1798, are situated on Rinrawros Point at the Northwest of the island providing a focal point for exploration of the surrounding area.
The island has a unique collection of wildlife inhabitants. The three miles of open Atlantic ocean prevents access to and from the mainland for land based animals. As a result Arranmore lacks a large number of land animals which might be familiar to anyone living on the Irish mainland. Birdlife is not restricted by the sea and the absence of many of their natural predators means they can live and breed with relative ease on the island. This is reflected in the large number and variety of birds seen every year.
