Things to do and see
on Achill Island
See the Deserted Village of Slievemore, the Atlantic Drive, Granuaille’s Castle and the enchanting Annagh. Cycle the Achill Cycle Loops or the new Great Western Greenway, play a round of golf on the Keel Links, go pony-trekking, scuba diving, sea and shore angling, surfing, kayaking, kite surfing, land yachting...you name it and you can do it in Achill. Achill has five Blue Flag Beaches to choose from.
The Achill Half Marathon takes place on the first Saturday in July and Féile Bia na Mara (Achill Seafood Festival) two weeks after that (mid July). There are walking festivals in May and October and Achill Yawl Racing in August. During the last week in July Scoil Acla Irish Cultural School Irelands’ oldest summer school brings numerous visitors to the island. Scoil Acla was originally founded in 1910 and revived in 1985 and comprises a week-long traditional music and arts festival.
There are numerous health and wellness practitioners in Achill, and the vibe on the island is perfect for this type of relaxation.
Also Nearby
Getting to Achill
- By Rail: via Westport or Castlebar
- By Car:
- from Dublin – take N5 to Castlebar then follow signs for Newport, Mulranny and Achill
- from Galway – take N17 to Tuam, Claremorris, Castlebar, Newport, etc
- or – Galway – Headford – Ballinrobe – Castlebar, etc
- from Sligo – take N17 towards Galway, at Charlestown take N5 towards Castlebar, etc.
- By Bus: Bus Eireann services from Westport to Dooagh
- By Air: You can fly to Knock Airport (IWAK) from a number of UK and European locations. Visit the Ireland West Airport Knock website for schedules and carriers.
Facts & Figures
Achill has a population of approximately 2,500, though the parish of Achill includes the Currane peninsula, bringing the total population in the parish up to 3,500.
The highest sea cliffs in Europe are on the northwest face of Croaghán Mountain (668m) in Dooagh. James Kilbane, of You’re a Star fame, is from Achill Sound and footballers Kevin Kilbane and Darren Fletcher both have relations in Achill (Dookinella and Dooagh respectively).
The infamous Captain Boycott lived in Corrymore House in Keem. Paul Henry painted most of his famous paintings in Achill (which was considered to be part of Connemara at the time). Graham Greene and Ernie O’Malley holidayed in the same house in Dooagh. Portrait artist Robert Henri did hundreds of paintings of Dooagh children and villagers now on exhibition in the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina. Heinrich Boll, Nobel Prize winner for literature, lived and wrote in Dugort, and his house is now used by artists and writers throughout the year.
The first English-speaking volunteer to be killed in the Spanish Civil War was Tommy Patten from Dooega.
Education
There are nine primary schools in Achill. McHale College has recently merged with Scoil Damhnait to create a new community school in Achill Sound, which will start its first term in September 2011.
Sport
Links