Attymass parish is situated six miles south of Ballina and east of the river Moy. It lies at the foot of the Ox Mountains. The parish has a rich and ancient heritage, which includes megalithic tombs, court tombs, crannogs, ring forts, an ogham stone and holy wells.
A pre-famine cottage from Caradoogan in the parish of Attymass was carefully dismantled in 2002 and rebuilt stone by stone in New York where it supplies the centrepiece of a Famine Memorial.
In the townland of Currower east of the Abbey there is an Ogham stone standing 11 feet in height, one of only eight examples known in Co. Mayo.
The ruins of Kildermott Abbey overlook Ballymore Lough. As well as being an important national monument the abbey has several fascinating Folklore tales associated with it.
The Father Peyton Memorial Centre is a place of respite, prayer and peace located in the village of Attymass, between the beautiful Attymass Lake and the scenic Ox Mountains.
Known as the Gateway to North, Ballina is situated on the banks of the River Moy, that lively and popular angling destination for enthusiasts. After Castlebar, Ballina is the next largest town in the county and is notable for being the birthplace of Ireland’s first woman president, Mary Robinson, a renowned champion of human rights, internationally.
Ballina has an annual Salmon Festival which incorporates music, food, crafts and
entertainment and of course, salmon. It is fast becoming one of the best festivals in the country. For one
week every July, the town is a hive of activity, appealing to young and old alike, with a host
of events, incorporating music, art and heritage, as well as a variety of cultural activities,
showcasing the best of Mayo.
History buffs are well-catered to in Ireland, with plenty written on the nation’s story by academics, writers and politicians alike. Less frequently does one find a repository of local history, which, carefully selected and curated, make up an impressive archive of the 20th century. The Jackie Clarke Collection is just that.
Foxford is a picturesque village on the banks the renowned River Moy. Named Béal Easa, or "mouth of the waterfall", Foxford is situated in the heart of fishing country with the salmon-rich Moy providing superb salmon fishing opportunities and drawing anglers from far and wide with nearby Loughs Conn and Cullin, also offering impressive stores, especially of brown trout.
One of the town’s highlights is the Foxford Woollen Mills, one of the last working mills in
Ireland producing vibrantly coloured wool which is then transformed into magnificent works
of wearable art. Established in 1892, it was the brainchild of Agnes Morrogh-Bernard, a Sister of Charity, who was charged with the task of founding a convent in Foxford.
On 22nd of August 1798, the French General, Jean Joseph Amable Humbert led 1,000 men ashore after their ship sailed into Kilcummin, on the edge of Killala Bay. The French took over the home of Bishop Stock, the Church of Ireland Bishop of Killala, and turned it into their headquarters, before making their way towards Ballina and Castlebar. From here, they plotted their attack on the British in Castlebar.
On 22nd of August 1798, the French General, Jean Joseph Amable Humbert led 1,000 men ashore after their ship sailed into Kilcummin, on the edge of Killala Bay. The French took over the home of Bishop Stock, the Church of Ireland Bishop of Killala, and turned it into their headquarters, before making their way towards Ballina and Castlebar. From here, they plotted their attack on the British in Castlebar.
Today, Killala is a quiet, unspoilt fishing village which attracts fewer rebels and more enthusiasts of nature, water-based activities and fishing. Harbour fishing is at the centre of life in the village along with onshore, offshore and river fishing for which people travel far and wide to partake.
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.
Killala’s round tower stands tall at over 25 metres in the centre of the town where St. Patrick founded a church around 442 or 443 and appointed St. Muredach as bishop. St. Patrick is said to have baptised 12,000 new converts to Christianity in a single day at a holy well near the town.
Just outside Killala lies the ruins of Moyne Abbey, a Franciscan Friary, which is now a National Monument.
Historical buildings are dotted along Killala bay, including the Dominican Priory 'Rathfran Abbey' dated 1274 AD, Moyne Abbey, Meelick Castle, and Humbert's Rock.
A beautiful beach in Killala Bay.
Located on the River Moy, in North Mayo, close to Moyne Abbey and between the towns of Killala and Ballina, Rosserk Friary is possibly the best preserved monastic site in Ireland. It was founded by the Joyce family in the middle of the 15th century for the benefit of the Franciscan Third Order Friars, an order which incorporated laymen into the order as well as female clerics, though Rosserk’s religious community was male only.
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.
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.
the feeling that explodes in your chest when you reach the mouth of the River Moy, in Killala Bay, at the most eastern point of the North coast of the County, A feeling that can be described as a wave, a force that permeates through you, created by the interaction with nature and one that whilst not visible, reverberates inside you like the truest of truths.
Hill walking and scenic walks are in
abundance in the Pontoon area and there are beautiful beaches within easy drive. A spot by
the water offers tranquillity and plentiful scenery. For the angler, time moves at a different
pace and patience pays dividends, whether knee-deep in galoshes or sitting in a boat on the
lake with nothing but the sound of lapping water for company.
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.
Swinford (Béal Átha na Muice), meaning "the mouth of the ford of the pigs”, is formerly a market located 10 miles from Ireland West Airport Knock. A planned town, it was built by the Brabazon family who were the estate owners and landlords from Leicestershire who settled in the area in the 17th century, building Brabazon house in 1780.
The term was coined in 2011 by Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, but the route was always there.
The Wild Atlantic Way (WAW) spans from Ireland’s most northerly point, Malin Head in
Donegal to its most southerly, Mizen Head in Cork, taking in Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway,
Clare, and Kerry along the way. 2,500 kilometres of stunning coastline, staggering cliffs,
windswept lighthouses, Blue Flag beaches and national parks make this a special route.
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