{{Short description|Pair of granite rock islands ("Rock" and "Bill") off the east coast of Ireland}} {{distinguish|Rockabilly}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox islands | name = Rockabill | map = Ireland | map_caption = | native_name = ''Cloch Dábhiolla'' | native_name_link = | nickname = The Cow and The Calf | image = File:Skerries Lighthouse.jpg | location = Irish Sea | coordinates = {{coord|53.|35.49|N|6.|0.16|W|display=inline,title}} | archipelago = Rockabill | total_islands = 2 (The Rock and The Bill) | major_islands = The Rock | coastline_km = | highest_mount = | elevation_m = | area_acre = | country = Ireland | country_admin_divisions_title = Province | country_admin_divisions = Leinster | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = County | country_admin_divisions_1 = Dublin | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = Barony | country_admin_divisions_2 = Skerries | country_capital_city = | country_largest_city = | country_largest_city_population = | country_leader_title = | country_leader_name = | population = 2, May through August<ref name=ind2014>{{cite news | url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/no-man-is-an-island-except-if-you-get-new-400-a-week-bird-watching-job-30187333.html | first=Brian | last=O'Reilly | date=2014-04-15 | title=No man is an island – except if you get new €400 a week bird watching job | work=Irish Independent }}</ref> | population_as_of = 2014 | density_km2 = | ethnic_groups = | additional_info = }} thumb|The Rock of Rockabill with helicopter pad visible '''Rockabill''' ({{irish place name|Cloch Dábhiolla}})<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/1165790 |title=Cloch Dábhiolla/Rockabill |website=Placenames Database of Ireland}}</ref> is a close pair of islands (Rock and Bill) in the western Irish Sea about 6 kilometres east-north-east of Skerries, County Dublin, Ireland. The two granite islands are separated by a channel about 20 metres wide. On the Rock there is a lighthouse, built 1855–1860 from granite and limestone and automated in 1989, and several walls and outbuildings.
==Environment== thumb|The Rock of Rockabill The walled areas of the Rock have enabled a build-up of soil and the establishment of vegetation, notably tree mallow (''Malva arborea''), which provides nesting cover for the birds. The Bill is smaller and has very little vegetation.
Rockabill is an important seabird breeding island, especially notable for its terns. It is an internationally important site for roseate terns, with the largest colony in Europe, 1,597 pairs, and 2,085 pairs of Common Terns (2017 data). Other seabirds include black guillemots and black-legged kittiwakes. It has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because of its seabird colonies.<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/619 |title=Rockabill|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-08-29}}</ref>
Rockabill Lighthouse is owned by the Commissioners of Irish Lights and is a Refuge for Fauna and a Special Protection Area under the European Union Birds Directive. Since 1989, when the protection afforded by the lighthouse keepers ceased, the islands have been managed by BirdWatch Ireland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://birdwatchireland.ie/our-work/species-habitat-conservation/marine/rockabill-tern-project/ |title=Rockabill Tern Project |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=Birdwatch Ireland |access-date=2020-06-23 |quote=}}</ref> The sea area between Rockabill and Dalkey Island has recently been proposed as a Special Area of Conservation.<ref>{{ cite press release | publisher=MerrionStreet.ie: Irish Government News Service | url=http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2012/12/designation-of-new-marine-special-areas-of-conservation/?cat=12 | date=2012-12-03 | title=Designation of New Marine Special Areas of Conservation}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}} {{refbegin}} {{refend}}
Category:Islands of County Dublin Category:Important Bird Areas of Atlantic islands Category:Important Bird Areas of the Republic of Ireland Category:Uninhabited islands of Ireland