|
 |
About
Mayo Stretching from Lough Corrib in the south to Killala Bay in the north, Mayo boasts many attractions including stunning mounting scenery, megalithic tombs, excellent fishing waters, hill walking and great golf courses - including the championship course at Westport in west Mayo. Mayo has a wonderfully varied landscape. A long coastline features superb safe beaches and all the drama of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. Romantic islands include Clare Island, long the home of Grace O'Malley, the pirate queen, Inishturk and Achill, Ireland's largest island, joined to the mainland by a bridge. Inland a more serene beauty reigns with lakeland scenery and rolling mountains. Mayo has hundreds of beautiful lakes ranging from the world famous Great Western Lakes of Conn, Cullen and Corrib right down to tiny local lakes. Parts of the county also feature the endangered bog land habitat, a mecca for wildlife enthusiasts. Ballina, the largest town in Mayo, lies on the river Moy, and is internationally renowned for its fishing. The elegant Victorian and Edwardian pub and shop fronts testify to a long history of vigorous trading. A busy market town, Ballina hosts a colourful street festival each July. It is also home to Moyne Abbey and Rosserk Friary, both founded in the 15th century and both well worth a visit. Achill Island Achill Island (24 km x 19 km) is the largest island in the country and is accessible from the mainland by bridge. Its magnificent sandy beaches, sea cliffs and warm hospitality bring visitors back again and again. The island is a combination of fantastic views, bog land and mountains. Fear not if you are without a car, bikes can be hired from a couple of locations, and there are many mountain walks, suitable for all levels. Castlebar is the county town of Mayo. It is also the administrative seat for the county. It is a busy bustling market town and is one of the fastest growing towns in the country. It is a town steeped in history, with one of the oldest buildings being Christchurch whose foundation stones was laid in 1739. The large, attractive village green, known as the Mall, was once the cricket ground of the Lucan family, who owned a large amount of land in the area. Music lovers flocked to this town annually for years to attend the Castlebar International Song Contest, which sadly no longer exists. Westport is a charming town, with lively traditional pubs and plenty of Irish music. It is located on the River Carrowbeg and the shores of Clew Bay. Westport is in two parts, the town itself, and Westport Quay, just outside the town, on the road to Luisburgh. Westport is a relaxed town with a recognisable Georgian appearance. It has a leafy mall, octagonal square, a canalised river and one of the country's finest stately homes, Westport House. Inland, Croagh Patrick, the pyramidal mountain, is where Saint Patrick spent the 40 days of Lent back in 441. It's from here he is said to have banished all the reptiles from Ireland. On the last Sunday of July every year there is a special pilgrimage to the top. Thousands come from all over the country, and many still climb it bare-footed. Climbing it on any other day of the year is probably a lot more enjoyable and peaceful. The view from the top on a clear day is really quite breathtaking. Mayo's other famous religious site is Knock, which is visited by hordes of pilgrims every year. Knock has been a place of pilgrimage ever since 1879, when an apparition of the Virgin Mary appeared, accompanied by St Joseph and St John. Fifteen people, young and old, witnessed this Apparition. From this miraculous occurrence, Knock has grown to the status of an internationally recognised Marian shrine. The visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979, commemorating the centenary of the Apparition, inspired an even greater devotion to the Shrine. The Knock Folk Museum (open May to October) is small but is an ideal introduction to the history of the town. Knock Airport is open daily and serves many Irish and UK destinations. The fields are
located 20 miles from Ballina, situated between Belderrig and Ballycastle.
They represent the oldest enclosed farmland discovered in the Western world
(older than the Egyptian Pyramids) at about 5,000 years.
They were discovered in the early 1980s and are part of an ongoing
archaeological investigation. Under nearly seven feet of blanket bog,
archeologists have unearthed the stone walls of a Neolithic farm system.
In addition, the wild flora of the bog is of international importance and is
bounded by some of the most spectacular rock formations and cliffs in Ireland.
In 1993, a visitor's centre was opened at the site and has attracted thousands
of visitors to view the historic landscape and the magnificent Céide cliffs and
Dún Briste sea stack. Grace O' Malley (1530-1603) also called Granuaile was the daughter of a Connaught chief. She established her own fleet and commanded her own army. Twice widowed and imprisoned, she fought all comers at the head of a force of 200 sea-raiders to protect her rights and those of her people. She controlled the vigorous trade between Galway and the Continent, as well as running a lucrative business importing Scottish mercenaries for Chieftain's wars against England. One of her homes was Rockfleet Castle, near Newport. Grainne is supposed to have lived out her years here, and in 1574 she successfully repulsed an English force besieging the Castle. |
|
Developed by Webtrade Ltd.