Achill Island and the Curraun Peninsula, in County Mayo, are the jewels in the crown of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Blue Flag beaches, mountains, soaring sea cliffs with the highest sea cliffs in Ireland (Croaghaun sea cliffs 688 metres or 2,257 ft), iconic Keem Bay and big Atlantic skies await you.
Achill’s Keem Beach was ranked number 1 in Ireland and number 19 in the 50 Best Beaches in the World by the travel website Big 7. Keem Bay has consistently been ranked in the top 20 of this list by Big 7.
Achill is attached to the mainland by Michael Davitt Bridge, between the villages of Gob an Choire (Achill Sound) and Poll Raithní (Polranny). A bridge was first completed here in 1887.
It has a population of 2,594. Its area is 148 km2 (57 sq mi)
Places to visit:
Kildavnet Tower is located on the south-eastern shore of Achill Island, couple of hundred metres along the shore from the ancient church. It is a fine example of a 15th Century Irish tower house. This three storey building stands about 40ft (12m) tall and has buttress fortifications at the top. It was probably built by the O’Malley Clan, a local ruling family, in about 1429. However it is better known as the home of its most famous tenant, the legendary pirate queen Granuaille (Grace O’Malley, 1530-1603).
Deserted Village at Slievemore provides a haunting reminder of times past on Achill Island. Set at the foot of the south-facing slope of Slievemore mountain, this ‘village’ consists of the remains of almost 100 traditional stone cottages. They are set either side of an ancient pathway, almost all aligned in the same north-south direction, and they occupy one of the most sheltered areas of Achill Island. The ‘village’ – literally it is three distinct groups of cottages – extends for a distance of about one mile.
The cliffs of Croaghaun on the western end of the island are the highest in Ireland and the third highest sea cliffs in Europe but are inaccessible by road.
White Cliffs of Ashleam – even the winding, narrow road down to Ashleam Bay (partly also called Portnahally Bay) is fantastically beautiful. The bay itself with its bizarre white rocks is an extraordinary sight – even in bad weather conditions.
Eire signs were placed along the coastline of the country to alert World War II bombers that they were flying over neutral Ireland. One of them is Eire 59 sign on Achill Island.
Minaun Heights. On a clear day, the view from top of the 466 metres high Minaun Heights is unbeatable. From here you overlook Ireland’s largest island Achill Island, Blacksod Bay and Clare Island.
But even when clouds hanging low, the experience might just be as spectacular. While Achill is densely covered, the sun sometimes shines on the Minaun Heights and every now and then you catch a glimpse of the island through a gap in the clouds. A real spectacle.