ARAN ISLANDS or SOUTH ARAN, three islands Lying across Galway bay, on the west coast of Ireland, in a south-easterly direc tion, forming a natural breakwater. They belong to County Gal way, and their population in 1921 was 1,625. They are Inishmore (or Aranmore), the great island in the north; Inishman, the mid dle island ; and Inisheer, the eastern island. The first has an ele vation of 354ft., the second of 259ft., and the third of 2o2ft. Their formation is carboniferous limestone. These islands are remark able for a number of architectural remains of early date. In Inish more there are remains of a circular cyclopean tower, called Dun Aengus, ascribed to the Fir-holg or Belgae, or to Aengus, who reached Aran islands from Scotland in the 1st century A.D. There are seven similar structures in the group. Inishmore also bears the name of Aran-na-naomh, Aran-of-the-Saints, from the number of its religious recluses who gave a celebrity to its holy wells, altars, and shrines. On Inishmore are remains of the abbey of Killenda. When Christianity was introduced, Aran became one of the most famous island-resorts of religious teachers and ascetics. The total area of the islands is 11,579 acres. Killeany, the har bour of Inishmore, has a curing station.