#Dorinish clew bay ireland free

Saint Patrick reputedly fasted on the summit of Croagh Patrick for forty days in the fifth century and built a church there. Croagh Patrick is part of a longer east-west ridge the westernmost peak is called Ben Goram.Croagh Patrick has been a site of pilgrimage, especially at the summer solstice, since before the arrival of Celtic Christianity. It forms the southern part of a U-shaped valley created by a glacier flowing into Clew Bay in the last Ice Age. On “Reek Sunday”, the last Sunday in July every year, over 15,000 pilgrims climb it. It is the third highest mountain in County Mayo after Mweelrea and Nephin. Magnificent views of Clew Bay and the surrounding south Mayo countryside are spectacular from all stages of the ascent of the mountain. It is 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Westport, above the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey with Bertra Beach at its base. It is also considered one of the best venues for tope, huss and ray.Ĭroagh Patrick (Irish: Cruach Phadraig meaning “(Saint) Patrick’s stack”), nicknamed the Reek, is a 764 metres (2,507 ft) tall mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo, Ireland. Clew Bay itself is an internationally recognised sea angling centre hostingmany sea fishing competitions each year and it is renowned for being the best venue for common skate fishing in the country and holds the Irish record for a 160 lb white skate. The bay is also home to Dorinish, a private island purchased by John Lennon in 1967.

#Dorinish clew bay ireland free

During the Irish Civil War in July 1922, 400 Free State troops were landed at Clew Bay to take Westport and Castlebar from Anti-Treaty forces. From the south side of the bay, between Clare Island and Achill, Bills Rocks can be seen.īBC coast documentary on Clew Bay and Croagh PatrickĬlew Bay was the focus of the O’Malley family possessions in the Middle Ages, and is associated especially with Grainne O’Malley – the legendary pirat queen whose castles on Clare Island and near Newport can still be visited. From the southwest part of the bay eastwards are Louisburgh, Lecanvey, Murrisk, and Westport north of Westport is Newport, and westwards from there lies Mulranny, gateway to Achill. Clare Island guards the entrance of the bay. The bay is overlooked by Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holy mountain, and the mountains of North Mayo. According to tradition, there is an island in the bay for every day of the year.

It contains Ireland’s best example of sunken drumlins from retreating glaciers at the end of the last ice age and was inundated when sea levels rose. Clew Bay, (Irish Cuan Mo) is a natural Atlantic ocean bay in County Mayo.