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.
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.
A beautiful beach in Killala Bay.
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.
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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