Achill Island: Wildly Rugged and Spectacularly Beautiful
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
Achill Island in County Mayo is a wildly rugged and spectacularly beautiful island. Located in the west of Ireland, it is lashed by the ocean, carved by the wind and swept by the rain. The imprint of past generations is everywhere on Achill, from megalithic tombs to ancient forts, historic churches to deserted villages that provide a haunting reminder of the old way of life.
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| THIS PICTURE was taken on Achill island in a bay area known as Ashleam.
PHOTO CREDITS:John McNamara
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Achill's long history features a rich cast of characters and one of the best known is the notorious Pirate Queen Granuaile (Grace O’Malley) (1530-1603). Under her leadership the O’Malleys controlled the waters of the western seaboard, imposing taxes and levis on all ships passing through this territory. Kildavnet Tower, built by the O’Malley clan, still stands today guarding the waters of Achill Sound, and was one of several such strongholds controlled by Granuaile.
Achill offers a number of attractions and interests including four Blue Flag beaches and several historic sites. The Atlantic Drive has spectacular views of Achill’s Atlantic waters and breathtaking coastal scenery.
I recently spoke with Councillor Michael McNamara who was elected mayor in June 2004 for a five year term. He has been involved in local Achill politics for the past six years and said his current duties relate to liaison with the officials of the Mayo County Council on behalf of the people of Achill in issues relating to housing, roads, environment, planning issues and community initiatives.
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| COUNCILLOR MICHAEL McNAMARA (R), the Mayor of Achill, is seen here with Sean O Neactain (L), a member of the European Parliament. |
The bridge that connects Achill Island to the mainland was named after the founder of the Irish Land League, Michael Davitt. “The bridge joins the mainland to the island at Mulranney on one side and Achill Sound on the other,” said Councillor McNamara, “it’s a swing bridge and probably about 120 meters along the causeway itself.
“The bridge in the centre just swings if there are boats moving up and down the canal. So, you can just drive onto Achill Island which is actually quite a big island at 15 miles long and about 10 miles wide, with a population of approximately 3,000 people.”
McNamara said there is no major industry on Achill Island and the major employers are local shops, public servants, teachers, guards and doctors. He also explained, “we have quite a number of people involved in the tourist industry, along with farming and fishing. In addition, a lot of people exist on social welfare.
“Many people work and commute daily to Castlebar and Westport, while others work in Galway, Sligo and Dublin and places like that. They have their families here and commute back on a weekly basis,” he added.
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| DESERTED VILLAGES on Achill Island in County Mayo provide a haunting reminder of the old way of life. |
One other source that has been a great boost to the local economy, was the opening of Our Lady Queen of Peace, House of Prayer in Achill Sound, by the visionary, Christina Gallagher.
The house was a convent that was originally owned by the Convent of Mercy and now people from all over arrive on the island by bus and car loads to pray in this very peaceful and pleasant place. For more information about visionary Christina Gallagher, check her website at: www.christinagallagher.org.
Achill Island is also famous for its Yawl Festival. Achill yawls are wooden-hulled sailing boats that take part in races throughout the summer months of July and August. “The races are based on a tradition here,” said McNamara. “In older times, families used the yawls to transport turf and live stock from one part of the island to the other.
“Those days are gone now, however the families have kept their yawls and the tradition has continued and there are about 20 yawls in the Achill region. It’s a very spectacular scene to see these yawls in races against one another throughout the weekends during the summer months.”
The other important festivals throughout the year on Achill are the Seafood Festival which is held in July and celebrates the harvest of the sea. The Walks Festival takes place in March and is the start of the tourist season. Scoil Acla is one of Ireland’s oldest summer schools, offering tuition in traditional Irish music, dance and culture.
“We have numerous bed and breakfast houses on Achill, as well as guest houses and hotels,” McNamara said. “They are quite good accommodations with a high standard of food. We also have quite a lot of modern and traditional public houses that feature modern and traditional music.” Fresh Atlantic seafood is also a specialty at Achill restaurants and its pubs and bars offer a traditional Irish welcome.
Michael McNamara wishes everyone a happy St. Patrick’s Day and said, “I’d also like to take this opportunity to wish all your readers all the best from Ireland. We’d be delighted to have you over here in Achill to visit. There is fantastic scenery, fantastic food and very friendly people. We’d love to have you here at any time and we hope you’re all doing well out there.”
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For more information about this spectacular island, visit the Achill Tourism website at: www.achilltourism.com. In Canada, call Tourism Ireland: 1-800-223-6470, or visit: www.tourismireland.com. (Special thanks to Stephen Corrigan, Achill Tourism Manager for all his help.)
[N.B.: The article on Newport, County Mayo and Achill Island might not have been possible without the help of Jo McNanamon, Postmistress at the Newport Post Office and Maura Gallagher, Postmistress at the Achill Sound Post Office. When I was unable to locate phone numbers for Frank Chambers of Newport and Michael McNamara of Achill Island, I remembered that the post office in Ireland is often the source of all local information.
Amusingly, when I asked the telephone operator to give me the phone numbers for the post office at both locations, she said, “if we weren’t able to find the numbers, how would the post office be able to help.” Not only was the post office able to give me their numbers but also their cell numbers. So, while Ireland may have changed, some things remain the same – and I hope that never changes!]
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