The Secret of Roan Inish

The Secret of Roan Inish

Year: 1994

Runtime: 103 mins

Language: English

Director: John Sayles

AdventureFamilyDramaFantasyFairy-tale fantasy and enchanted magic

Between land and sea lies a realm where myths are real. Ten‑year‑old Fiona stays with her grandparents in a tiny Donegal fishing village and learns that an ancestor married a Selkie—a seal that becomes human. After her baby brother vanished at sea, she spots a naked boy on the deserted Isle of Roan Inish and is driven to uncover the secret.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)

Trace every key event in The Secret of Roan Inish (1994) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Fiona moves to her grandparents' home

Fiona, a frail young girl, is sent in 1946 to live with her grandparents in a small Irish fishing village after her mother's death and her father's illness. She settles into village life where the people know one another and nature is closely tied to daily life. The story frames her as the observer of family legends that haunt the present.

1946 Irish fishing village
2

Grandfather shares stories of Roan Inish and WWII evacuation

In the evenings, Fiona's grandfather recounts their family's history, including the evacuation from Roan Inish during World War II. He explains how Roan Inish, the 'Island of Seals,' sits off the coast and holds old memories for the family. The tales establish a bridge between the living village and the island's legends.

Evening, 1946 Grandparents' home
3

Tales of selkies and a dark family secret

A distant cousin, Tadhg, shares a legend of an ancestor who married a selkie, and explains that selkie blood remains in the family. He warns that a mysterious 'dark one' appears in each generation, including Fiona's baby brother Jamie. The stories hint at connections between humans and the sea-spirits.

Throughout early 1940s–1946 Grandparents' living room
4

Jamie disappears during departure from Roan Inish

Years earlier, the sea seems to have stolen Jamie as the family departed Roan Inish, leaving his cradle boat bobbing on the water. The event casts a haunting absence over the family and anchors the selkie legend in memory. The sea's pull remains a lasting mystery for Fiona.

Years earlier Roan Inish coast
5

Eamon becomes Fiona's ally on the sea

Eamon, the cousin who stays with the grandparents for his health, grows into a partner in Fiona's plans. The two spend days at sea and around Roan Inish, with the curragh and shoreline adventures drawing them closer. Their shared curiosity pushes the story toward action.

Present timeline Curragh, near Roan Inish
6

Fiona believes she sees Jamie on Roan Inish

During a visit to Roan Inish, Fiona thinks she sees Jamie romping on the strand and in the grass. She confides in Eamon, who cautions her to keep quiet for now. The possibility of Jamie’s return becomes a burning secret.

During visit to Roan Inish Roan Inish shoreline
7

Secret plan to reclaim Roan Inish cottages

They decide that if the grandparents moved back to Roan Inish, the seals would bring Jamie back to the cottage. The plan grows from hopeful rumor to ongoing, quiet pursuit, fueled by their shared belief in the island's magic. The grandparents remain unaware of the secret restoration project.

Weeks before storm Roan Inish cottages
8

Fiona and Eamon restore cottages on Roan Inish

Over weeks they work quietly to clean and restore the cottages on Roan Inish, repairing roofs and gardens while keeping their plan hidden from the grandparents. Their labor makes the place feel like a home again and strengthens the hope that Jamie might return. The act binds the siblings to the island and its legends.

Weeks of secret labor Roan Inish
9

Storm prompts urgent rescue attempt

Upon returning home, a fierce storm erupts, threatening Jamie's safety by the sea. Grandmother acts swiftly, rallying the family to travel to Roan Inish to find him, guided by love and a sense of urgency. The storm intensifies the stakes of the unresolved disappearance.

Storm night Grandparents' home and Roan Inish coast
10

Curragh voyage back to Roan Inish to find Jamie

The grandmother, with her husband, Fiona, and Eamon, races to Roan Inish by curragh as the storm rages. They hope to locate Jamie and bring him back to safety, while the island's weather and waves test their resolve. The seals continue to loom as silent guardians of the coast.

Storm night Roan Inish
11

Jamie returns to shore but forgets his family

Jamie appears on the strand and heads toward the cottages, but he does not immediately recognize the grandparents or Fiona. The seals herd him toward his family, and his fear is evident as memories remain elusive. The moment is charged with wonder and confusion.

That night Roan Inish shore
12

Jamie safely reunites with his family by the fire

The grandmother calls to Jamie with warmth and love, and he finally comes into their open arms. The seals depart as the family gathers indoors by a warm fire, wrapping Jamie in a blanket and rocking him to sleep in Fiona's arms. Joy and relief wash over the household as the past settles into a hopeful present.

After reunion Grandparents' cottage, indoors

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:44

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The Secret of Roan Inish Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Secret of Roan Inish

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