You Think You Know Rathlin Island? Quiz

Answer: Three

There are three, the oldest of which is the East Light dating from 1856, the West Light from 1917 and the most southerly light, at Rue Point, opened in 1921.

Answer: Its light is at the base of its tower not the top

The West Light is on top of the cliffs at Kebble Point and when its light was placed even higher, eg. on the lighthouse's tower, it was found to be too difficult to see to be effective. So some lateral thinking took place and the light was placed at the base of the tower instead; it is also known as the Upside Down Light.

Answer: 22

A townland is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. On Rathlin Island there are 22, which are Ballycarry, Ballyconagan, Ballygill Middle, Ballygill North, Ballygill South, Ballynagard, Ballynoe, Carravinally, Carravindoon, Church Quarter, Cleggan, Craigmacagan, Demesne, Glebe, Kebble, Kilpatrick, Kinkeel, Kinramer North, Kinramer South, Knockans, Mullindross and Roonivoolin.

Answer: McCuaig's Bar

McCuaig's Bar is described as "a charming public house inside which you will find a well stocked bar and an astonishing 14 games machines that will surely keep you entertained." Not that the weather's ever bad enough to force you to seek entertainment indoors.

Answer: Raghery

The Greek geographer Ptolemy named the island as "Rikina" from which the old Irish form of the name Reachra appeared in the mid 6th-century. Around the 1200s the name Raghery came into every day usage and later the modern English form Rathlin. The name Raghery is still used by those native to the island.

Answer: 11 miles (18km)

The closest point in Scotland to Rathlin Island is the southern tip of the Mull of Kintyre, 11 miles (18km) away, while Northern Ireland's closest point is 2.25 miles (3.6km) away at Fair Head in County Antrim.

Answer: Robert the Bruce

Rathlin Island afforded shelter to Robert Bruce in 1306. His resistance to the English in Scotland had made him a fugitive and it was in a cave near the present day East Light that he had his fateful encounter with the spider.

Answer: Hare

The Irish hare is one of the rarest animals in Europe but they are common on Rathlin. A genetic mutation has produced a number of rusty or tan hares, which are much lighter coloured than all the rest. One theory is that they only survive here because there are no predators.

Others think that it is a natural colour for an animal that survives by speed, not camouflage. Either way they have become the legendary Golden Hares of Rathlin.

Answer: Puffins

All off these species are found on Rathlin but the stars of the show are Rathlin's famous Puffins. People enjoy their antics from the viewing points on the cliffs and watch the adults returning from fishing at sea with sand eels hanging from their beaks.

Answer: The hotel cancelled the booking at the last minute.

Northern Ireland Office officials refused to tell the manager of the Manor House the identity of his guests. They would only divulge to him that they were "extremely important VIPs". This was not enough for the manager who cancelled the booking at the last minute, leaving the officials searching for somewhere else to take their guests for lunch ending up in the island's only other eatery, McCuaig's Bar. Probably with a packet of crisps and a sausage roll.