Achill Island.

Achill is the largest of Ireland's islands, it is situated off the west coast of County Mayo, and connected to the rest of the county by a road bridge spanning the narrow Achill Sound. It is about 20km (10 MI) in length, and and 13 km wide its area extends to approximately 145 sq km (56 sq MI). The interior of the island is mostly peat and bog land. The highest peak is Mount Croaghuan, rising to 668 m (2,192 ft) above sea level. Slieve More near the north coast of the island descends steeply to the Minaun cliffs which are the highest sea cliffs in western Europe at 244 m (800 ft)

It is only possible to grow crops near the coast and on some of the the valley floors. There is some dairy and sheep farming. The island has two fishing ports Dugort and Keel on the south coast. On the southern tip of the island at Kildownet is a 16th century castle once the stronghold of the pirate queen Grace O'Malley. There is a ruined 12th -century church nearby, Gaelic is widely spoken on the island.

Because of its ease of access the island attracts many visitors the busiest times being July and August, its population stands at about 3,000 although this is swelled significantly in the summer months. There is much to see and do on the island, whatever your chosen sport or interest you will find it well catered for, some of these activities are listed below, bird watching, surfing, hill walking, windsurfing, swimming, rock climbing, angling, diving, kite surfing, golf, horse riding and painting, there are several summer schools and courses, not forgetting the festivals dedicated to arts and culture, walking, sailing, seafood and traditional music.

Achill, although remote from the rest of Ireland has a history dating back some 5,000 years there are many megalithic tombs and promontory forts, you can visit Kildamhnait Castle a 15th century tower house connected with the O' O'Malley who were once a ruling family of Achill, the most famous of them was undoubtedly Grace O' O'Malley, or Granuaile, a local sea pirate who was married to one of the Galway O'Flahertys', she is reputed to have sailed her ship up the Thames to London and an audience with Queen Elizabeth 1.

Another site well worth a visit is Achill Mission or 'the Colony' at Dugort, this was founded in 1831Reverend Edward Nangle a Protestant minister, Nangle's mission was very successful, schools, an orphanage, a small hospital, cottages and a hotel were built, the hotel survives as The Slievemore Hotel. The mission survived for about fifty years closing in the 1880's before that a university was opened at Mweelin the readers were trained to teach the bible in Gaelic, Edward nangle died in 1883.

Achill throughout the centuries has no doubt had more than its fair share of tragedies and broken dreams, there are two deserted villages on the island, Slievemore and Ailt, exactly why they came to be deserted I don't know, perhaps it was the famine and the mass exodus of those who survived it.

Many famous people have had associations with Achill, to chronicle them here would be akin to reinventing the wheel when it is already done on Achill Tourism site visit this page.