There are over 300 islands off the coast of Ireland, with just under 9,000 people inhabiting around 58 of these islands.

Today Ecotourism is being promoted on a lot of the islands, as they tailor their attractions to modern requirements.

They are becoming sites for civil weddings and places where people can go to fitness camps.

Ireland’s islands have been an attractive destination for many over the years.

John Lennon bought Dorinish Island at the height of his fame in 1966. According to his wife Yoko Ono they couple often discussed the idea of building a cottage there. 

W.B. Yeats sent J.M. Synge to Aran Island to 'express a life that has never found expression.'

James Joyce visited Aran in 1912 while Gerard Dillon discovered that living 'a real peasant life' on Inishlacken island allowed him to escape 'the suffocation of his era.'

While American poet Theodore Roethke planned trips to the islands in the hope that the isolation would help deal with his alcoholism

Diarmaid Ferriter, Professor of Modern Irish History at UCD, joined Matt Cooper on The Last Word for a fascinating chat about his new book about the islands On The Edge.

You can hear that chat in full by pressing the play button on the image on the top of the screen.