Achill Island

Achill Island has some of the most breathtaking scenery in Mayo, if not the world...

To really enjoy Achill, follow the signs for the Atlantic Drive and see some of the most spectacular windswept plains in Ireland.  Afterward, drive to the extreme western edge of Achill and visit Keem beach.  The drive alone is amazing taking you over the high mountains of Achill then winding down into the narrow valley around Keem.  From above the beach you can see the meeting of the waters where the warm and cold waters of the Atlantic dramatically mix just offshore.  In between and around the island, Achill has a number of picturesque beaches, cliffs and villages--each enjoyable and worth a visit.

Achill has four main villages:  Dooagh, Keel, Doogort and Achill Sound.  At these villages and scattered around the island are a number of shops, artists at work, restaurants and lodgings.  Achill is a great place to spend a long, lazy weekend enjoying the scenery and culture of this massive island.  A bridge connects Achill to mainland Mayo just outside of Mulranny, making it a short drive from anywhere in Mayo.

For more information, visit these websites:

• Achill Tourism (external link)
• Achill Archeological Field School (external link)