 The population dramatically dropped from the previous average of 8,000 before the Great Famine.The National University of Ireland, Galway, has an Irish-language and educational centre ("Áras Shorcha Ní Ghuairim") in Roisín na Mainiach, near Carna.It also operates a marine biology station Martin Ryan Institute in Maínis and an atmospheric research station at Mace Head, Carna, which is run by the university's experimental physics department.