click for Directions to Sandy Bay Marina for Ferry to Rams Island What's New?   We now have a broadcast date for Dig WW2, part of which was filmed with Dan Snow last summer on Rams Island. The first episode will air on Monday, May 14, 21:00 on BBC 1 NI. The following two episodes will play the following Mondays. During WW2 USAAF personnel from the American base at Langford Lodge took time off to relax on Rams Island. Made a change from working on Lightnings, Thunderbolts and Liberators etc. Some of the visitors carved their names and home states on the Beech trees. At the start of WW2 a detachment of Belgian Troops were actually stationed on the Island. A television crew from 360 Productions filmed Dan Snow British Television presenter on Friday evening 5th August for a series of historical programmes on WW2 to be aired by the BBC. Surrounded by airfields and with the famous Sandy Bay Flying boat base Lough Neagh and Rams Island played a large background role in the war effort. This was mainly training, servicing and armament production. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18035910   A short video about the Woodcarvings on the Island   Woodcarver from Rams Island on Vimeo.   For Older What's New? clips click here   The River Bann & Lough Neagh Association Co has produced a guide for the two major Islands of Lough Neagh, Coney Island and Rams Island. 48 pages of information about the flora and fauna, history and a small hint of scandal. Its available now for £6 plus £1.50p&p   also available for local pickup email: michael@ramsisland.org

Ram’s Island Heritage Project

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Ram's Island is located approximately one mile offshore from Lennymore Bay and Sandy Bay on the Eastern Shore of Lough Neagh. Rams is the largest island on Lough Neagh. Lough Neagh was designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), a Special Protection Area and a Ramsar site in 1992, 1996 and 1976 respectively.  It has been suggested that Rams was formed as a Glacial Esker. It is nearly one mile long by a quarter of a mile wide at the widest southern end. Notable features of the Island are a round tower (a scheduled ancient monument 58:16, the remains of a Celtic Monastic Settlement about a thousand years old) and the ruins of the O’Neill’s’ nineteenth century summer house. The Island was last permanently inhabited in the 1920s by the Cardwell family who were caretakers for the O’Neill’s. The remains of Cardwell’s harbour, left dry by the lowering of Lough Neagh, can be seen near the ruins of Cardwell’s little house. The Island has quite a number of mature deciduous trees including Oak, Ash, Alder, Willow, Birch, Beech, Sycamore, Lime, Horse Chestnut, and unusually Walnut. There are Yew, Snowdrops, Bluebells, Primrose, Lords and Ladies (Jack in the Pulpit), Wild Mint, Wild Garlic, Lesser Celandine, Ferns and a carpet of Daffodils, depending on the season. Fungi such as Scarlet Elf’s Cap and Jelly Ear can also be found. There are also various Mosses and Lichens. Although overgrown, there are remains of a carriageway along the elevated central spine of the island. There are overgrown paths along the entire length of the Island. Its remote, wilderness and ‘lost in time’ qualities make Ram’s a pleasant and attractive place to visit.