County Mayo boasts a stunningly beautiful unspoilt environment with a magical attraction for visitors. Cosmopolitan towns such as Westport positively burst with charm and personality, as welcoming as the Mayo people themselves. Unique attractions include Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holy mountain with the starkly beautiful National Famine Memorial at its foot; Westport House Estate, ancestral home of the Browne family, Knock Shrine, scene of an miraculous apparition in 1879 and Ballintubber Abbey, the abbey that refused to die.
Ballintubber Abbey - Mayo
ACHILL ISLAND - 90 Minute drive from Ocean Sands Hotel
Ireland’s largest off Shore Island joined to the mainland by a bridge at Achill sound. The famous Atlantic drive from Mulranny by the Spannish Armada Memorial and around the island is a must. This 266 sq. miles of island has the distinction of having received five European blue flag beach awards. A visit to Achill is a must. Drive the Atlantic Drive, visit Keem Beach, Go Surfing, and Kayaking or just walk the beaches. Visit the deserted village of Slieve More and the Megalethic Tombs. Achills stunning landscape and rich heritage make it the ideal day trip.
Achill Archaeological Field School - The Achill Archaeological Field School was founded in 1991 as a Training School for students of archaeology and anthropology. The Field School is based at the Achill Archaeology Centre in Dooagh and at the Deserted Village of Slievemore, both of which are located in the west of Ireland on Achill Island in County Mayo.
Calender of Events happening on Achill Island
July 15th - 18th Feile Bia Na Mara/Seafood Fesival
July 26th - August 1st - Scoil Acla - Traditional Irish Music Summer School
July & August all Weekends - Cruinniu Badoiri - Yawl Sailing Festival
CLIMB CROAGH PATRICK
This stiff climb on Irelands Holy Mountain is rewarded by a huge sense of achievement and panoramic views over Clew Bay, Achill Island, Clare Island, Innisturk and Connemara. Not for the faint hearted, good walking footwear is recommended! Also check out the national Famine Monument close to the foot of Croagh Patrick.
Croagh Patrick - Mayo
The annual pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick takes place the last Sunday in July - known as Reek Sunday.
National Famine Memorial - Croagh Partick, Mayo.
WESTPORT HOUSE & COUNTRY PARK
One of Irelands most beautiful and historic homes. It’s the ideal centre for a day visit especially for families. Westport House enjoys a superb parkland setting with lake, terraces, wonderful gardens and magnificent views overlooking Clew Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, Achill, Clare Island and Ireland’s holy mountain Croagh Patrick. It was built and is still privately owned by the Browne family (Lord Altamont) who are direct descendants of the 16th century Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley.
Westport House was opened to the public for the first time in 1960 and since then has welcomed over 4,000,000 visitors.
As well as the magnificent Historical and Cultural aspects Westport House and Country Park has to offer, there is also a wide range of other fun attractions and facilities (suitable for a variety of age groups) available to the day visitor during Summer Open Season (June,July,August)
Pirate Ship (thrills n’chills ride) ...Pirates Plunge (wet n’wild flume ride).....Grace’s Bouncy Castle .... Treasure Island Express (rumble through the jungle) .... The White Swan (pedal boats).... Cannon Ball Run (slippery slide ride) .... The Pirates Den (indoor soft play area) ..... Pirate’s Playground ..... Pitch n’Putt ....Tennis ..... Fishing ...... The Dungeons ...... Westport Hous.
More information on www.westporthouse.ie
CLARE ISLAND
A journey of 15 minutes from Roonagh Pier. Louisburgh. A paradise for walking. Check out all the beautiful unspoilt beaches. Watch out for the family of bottlenose Dolphins on the journey over and back.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF COUNTRY LIFE - 40 Minute drive from Hotel.
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life Turlough
Turlough Park House is set in spectacular surroundings, framed by magnificent gardens, reflected in the still waters of its own lake. This is the first branch of the National Museum to be located outside of Dublin, and complements its three sister venues in Dublin. The National Folklife Collection has been assembled by the Museum's professional staff here, in award-winning galleries, laid out in many ingenious and innovative ways, are the lives of the ordinary people of Ireland from the period 1850-1950. Located between Ballyvary and Castlebar.
The Ceide Fields - 40 Minute drive fron Hotel
History comes alive at the world famous Céide Fields near Ballycastle in north Mayo. Over five and a half millennia old, this Neolithic landscape of world importance is well worth a visit.
Céide Fields overlooks the mighty Atlantic Ocean which gently laps or vigorously pounds (depending on the weather!) up against the cliffs below. The landscape itself has been forged from the dramatic upheaval and movement of the earths crust over millions of years.
The soil at Céide Fields has been constantly subjected to the conflicts of the weather. The warm Gulf Stream comes up past the American continent between Ireland and Iceland. In the opposite direction, cold deep waters flow south from the icey Arctic Ocean. The combination of all these factors have resulted in the wild beauty and uniqueness of this region in County Mayo.
Foxford Woollen Mills - 20 Minute drive from Ocean Sands Hotel
Since opening in 1992 the award winning Foxford Woollen Mills Visitor Centre has earned the reputation as a premier visitor attraction in Ireland. At the core of the centre is The Historical Woollen Mill Tour where you can step back in time to see how life was in Foxford in the 1890's. You will meet Mother Agnes Morrogh Bernard, the Irish Sister of Charity who founded the Woollen Mills in 1892. See how the town of Foxford grew and prospered around the Mill. The tour also includes a visit to the working woollen mill where skilled craftspeople can be seen producing the world famous rugs, blankets and tweeds. The Historical Woollen Mill Tour is available in German, French, Italian, Irish as well as English.
The Visitor Centre is also home to the Olde Mill Restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious home cooked meal or snack any day of the week. The Mill Shop is located on the ground floor, stocking a wide variety of Irish made gifts for you to choose from as well as goods produced in the mill.
Hennigans Heritage Farm and the new Sporting opportunities abound especially fishing of all sorts including the River Moy in Ballina where the salmon is king.
There are watersports, hiking and walking, golf links and courses, horseriding and cycling… the list is endless. Sandy beaches, clear waters and beautiful islands. Superb restaurants, pubs of character and of course the irresistable tumbling melodies of traditional Irish music spilling onto the streets. Quite simply Mayo is amazing!
