The medieval Ashford castle in Cong, is one of those structures that are made for intercepting the diagonals of the sun and transforming them into pure serenity. In a park overlooking the boundless Lough Corrib, the mighty outlines of the fortress towers cut through the sky, casting their huge shadows on the lawn. The castle, built in 1228, has for many years now been a hotel and in its long history has been host to many historical figures.
Achill is the largest of the Irish islands, it lies to the Northwest of the Corraun Peninsula to which it’s connected by a small bridge and reminiscent of the hornet, it too flies without regard to its limitations.
The cross at Doo Lough Pass between Louisburgh and
Leenane is poignant, as it commemorates the fate of a group of starving, desperate people
of all ages, who made a fruitless journey from Louisburgh to Delphi on foot seeking relief.
Killala Bay is formed out of the estuary of the River Moy and straddles counties Mayo and Sligo, forming part of the Wild Atlantic Way route. It has long been a place for famously good salmon fishing, a fact that became internationally known in part due to the second home of the Republic of Ireland’s football team manager, Jack Charlton.
Killary Harbour (An Caoláire Rua) is the Republic’s only glacial fjord which slices the mountains north and south of it, creating a natural border between counties Galway and Mayo. Stretching 16 kilometres in length, it runs 45 metres deep the unspoilt scenery has a magnetic calmness about it.
With over 70 islands scattered about the lake -from tiny (50 m²) to substantial (2.5 acres)- the lake is a favourite among landscape painters with such a variety of vistas and reflections in the ever-changing light.
A small rocky ridge of land is all that separates the larger Lough Conn from its southerly neighbour Lough Cullin, whose formation is explained in a colourful legend which tells how Celtic hero, Fionn MacCumhaill was out hunting boar with his two hounds, Cullin and Conn. The dogs were chasing a boar when water began gushing from the boar’s feet. The steady flow of water from the boar drowned Conn and Cullin while simultaneously forming two lakes: Conn and Cullin.
Lough Mask is a large limestone lake just north of Lough Corrib, which empties into the Corrib River and ultimately out into Galway Bay. With its picture-postcard scenery, Lough Mask’s jagged rocky shores, surrounded by gentle sloping hills, draw people from near and far, particularly anglers.
For an easy stroll, while observing life in a rock pool, the beach at Old Head provides a lot of
interest and has a satisfying cliff walk and the best woodland habitat around, with excellent
bird-watching opportunities.
There is something profoundly literary about the life of a salmon. Born into the waters of a river, they head to the mouth of the river at a young age, fattening up and preparing for the changes in water salinity that they will experience as adults.
Among anglers, the River Moy is considered one of the premiere fishing spots in Europe. A destination in its own right, people travel from all parts of the globe to fish its world-class waters and there is something for every budget. The sight of fishermen on its banks are a permanent feature during the fishing season.
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