Isle of Muck, County Antrim

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View of the island from the coast Isle of Muck - geograph.org.uk - 250906.jpg
View of the island from the coast
Sound, Isle of Muck Sound, Isle of Muck, Islandmagee - geograph.org.uk - 1959077.jpg
Sound, Isle of Muck

The Isle of Muck is a tiny island off Islandmagee, which is on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, located between the towns of Larne and Whitehead. The Isle of Muck is not accessible to the public. It lies just off the coast of the townland and harbour of Portmuck.

The Isle has been managed by Ulster Wildlife [1] as a seabird sanctuary for at least the last 25 years. [2] Puffins were reintroduced in 2024 [3] [4] as a result of a seabird recovery project that was launched in 2017 to remove invasive brown rats from the island. [5] Puffins are a priority species in Northern Ireland and red-listed in the UK, putting them in the highest conservation concern bracket due to food shortages, climate change, and predation by invasive species.

References

  1. "Ulster Wildlife - Isle of Muck". Ulster Wildlife . Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  2. Cullen, Louise. "Puffins return to island for first time in at least 25 years". BBC News . BBC . Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  3. "Puffins: Isle of Muck comeback 'proves restoration works'". BBC News. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  4. McCambridge, Jonathan; PA. "'Myth is becoming a reality': Puffins make a comeback at Isle of Muck after 25 years". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  5. "Puffins return to Antrim nature reserve after 25 years". RTE. 14 November 2025.

54°50′54″N5°43′7″W / 54.84833°N 5.71861°W / 54.84833; -5.71861