New helipad will be 'lifeline' for Mayo island

There were celebrations on the breathtaking Inishturk Island last Friday as a new helipad was officially opened.

Minister for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary performed the official launch of the €700,000 state-of-the-art helipad which will be a vital lifeline for this beautiful but remote island community located 14km off the West Mayo coast. The last census had 56 residents on the island, although that number increases considerably during the summer months through tourism.

“This was an ambition of the island to have this facility and to have it to this standard,” said Minister Calleary. “This isn’t just a piece of infrastructure, it’s connection, and it’s something that can be really, really important at a potentially dark and challenging time in the life of an island resident or visitor, and ultimately the life of the community,” he added.

Minister Calleary said this latest piece of infrastructure shows what a vibrant and ambitious community Inishturk is and wants to be.

“Islands do have a future, they have a very ambitious future, and a future of sustainability and infrastructure,” he stated.

Minister Calleary was presented with a handmade model currach lovingly crafted by one of the island’s oldest residents Packie O'Toole and an Inishturk print that tells the story of the island.

The new helipad was designed by Langan Consulting Engineers in Westport and constructed by Cunningham Civil and Marine Ltd.

Mary Helena O’Toole, outgoing Inishturk community development co-ordinator, said the event was a “proud and momentous day for the people of Inishturk".

“The opening of this helipad marks the culmination of a long-held vision for the island, a project that for many years has been a top priority,” said Ms O’Toole.

She said the facility “was not just desirable but absolutely necessary” and would enhance the emergency response and connectivity for the island.

“The helipad stands as a symbol of ongoing investment in island life, a commitment to sustaining and supporting remote communities as envisaged under the Our Living Islands strategy,” Ms O’Toole added.

Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr John O’Hara, paid tribute to the resilient and thriving community of Inishturk.

“You are the inheritors of a unique heritage, a living testament to the enduring strength and character of this island,” said Cllr O’Hara.

He said the new helipad would allow access to timely medical care which is “not a luxury, it’s a fundamental necessity".

Katherine McConnell, Director of Services with Mayo County Council, said the new helipad will be of medical benefit to the island and also contribute to the overall connectivity of Inishturk.

“This new helipad is not just concrete, and engineering and steel, it’s a lifeline. A symbol of security and progress for the well-being of each island resident and visitor alike.”

Sinead Cahalan, Island Development Manager, Inishturk said: “The launch of the helipad on Inishturk marks a vital step forward in improving safety, connectivity, and emergency response for our island community.

“Beyond its practical function, the helipad stands as a symbol of ongoing investment in island life — a commitment to sustaining and supporting remote communities, as envisaged under the 'Our Living Islands' strategy."