County Mayo, Ireland Travel Blogs

North to South
Aug 15, 2006 (19 photos)

... . We explored the Bloody Sunday museum and watched a very informative 45 minute video which gave us a brief overview on how Ireland became so divided. We continued to head south and stopped off at the Belleek pottery factory just on 5:30. Belleek make ...

surreal islands, magical bogs, and lofty peaks
May 6, 2006 (49 photos)

... is very expensive but particularly the cost of food. I unwound a bit and then hopped on my bike on my way into Mayo county and eventually Westport. The ride around the bay was scenic and slow going. After climbing over a low peak a flater plateau ...

Miracles and Prophesies
Sep 18, 2009 (15 photos)

Today was a bit cloudy and slightly cool as we packed up. Kevin and his wife Maura served us a filling breakfast of bacon and eggs before we said good-by and left to fight the Galway traffic. Surprisingly, our exit went pretty smoothly, and we drove ...

Bushmills, Bridges and Ballycastle
Sep 24, 2009 (22 photos)

... we could see white stones spelling "EIRE".  They were part of "S. S. EIRE" (Saor Stat Eire, Irish Free State), which identiifed Ireland to Nazi bombers as neutral territory.   We went down a trail to see Hell’s Hole, but the tide ...

Westport
Jan 13, 2007 (20 photos)

This weekend we went to Westport, Ireland to try and climb Crough Patrick (Where St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland), unfortunately we could not climb the mountain since it was raining on Saturday, and was too windy on Sunday.  The summit was ...

Westport
Jul 14, 2006 (38 photos)

Derek and Majella have a bit of a do!!

Double Entry 7/23 and 7/24
Jul 24, 2009 (18 photos)

... We stopped along the way for pub lunch and also decided to leave a small piece of the passenger rear view mirror as a souvenir for Ireland to remember us by.  We arrived in Doolin just before curfew (this was 6:00 p.m. at our B&B), unloaded our ...

County Mayo
Jan 18, 2007

... of his family watchign the ridiculous "Big BRother" international saga ufnold (my first experience with it). Saturday we explored gorgeous County Mayo and Connemara (I think, sorry need a map in front of me) and the scenery I found amazing. Vin thought ...

Shamrocker Ireland Tour --the best scenery yet!
Jul 24, 2005 (5 photos)

... ! Westport is a beautiful little town, though much of its economy is geared towards tourism -- both from abroad and within Ireland. After we arrived our guide directed us to our B&B, as the hostel had no private rooms. Unfortunately she directed us up a ...

Cead Mille Failte!
Jul 22, 2009 (9 photos)

... and there we even found some pockets of new construction -- Irish subdivisions.  This must have been a result of Ireland's economic boom (well, until recently). We have now arrived safe and sound in Westport and spent the evening wandering around ...

Two Nights in a Castle
Nov 28, 2006 (9 photos)

One of the wedding presents that Kevin and I received was a gift voucher for the Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland. It was originally built in the 12th century and the estate is now a hotel. The stay in the hotel was amazing. I think what ...

Achill Island
Feb 22, 2007 (15 photos)

This weekend we went to Achill Island, which is the largest island off of Ireland. It is in Co. Mayo which is the next county north of Co. Galway. The island is 25 miles long, and is connected to Ireland by a short bridge. We stayed at the only hostel on ...

Croagh Patrick
Jul 5, 2006 (8 photos)

... it is getting me where I need to go!). And after 3 + hours, I disembarked at Westport. Why Westport? Well, I got to Ireland and realized that, apart from my facination with U2 (Hello, Hello! HOLA!), Guinness, and some topical history, I know a wee little ...

Cross Training
Aug 10, 2008 (2 photos)

I had to do something so I pumped air into my cousin's old rickety mountain bike and cycled 8km into Achill Sound to inquire about hiring a bike.  This town had no bikes but there were some in Keel ("it's only 8 miles away" said the kind lady in ...

Fjord cruise, seaweed spa, and an Irish Pub
Mar 29, 2004

... Attraction/rating: Killary Fjord Cruise/3 - 4* depending on weather  150 passenger all-weather catamaran. 1 ¾ hour cruise of Ireland's only fjord. A placid nine-mile scenic journey past mussel and salmon fish farms, sheep grazing on hillsides, and a ...

Meat & Potatoes
Aug 9, 2008

Staying here certainly feels like home...  They cook my dad's style of cooking (Meat & Potatoes).  Also, I think because of the fishing, people eat their biggest meal midday at 2-ish and a lighter tea at night. Today my uncle (actually ...

Meat & Potatoes
Aug 9, 2008

I wrote  a whole entry and didn't save as I went and it erased! I was given a tour of the island today.  I saw villages, ruins, beaches.  It's a small enough island.  I also saw Mr. Boycott's house and learned the origin of the word ...

Westport - the first real city in a while...
Jun 11, 2007 (4 photos)

Breakfast in Leenaun was nice - we were in the B&B with our view of the fjord.  The nice lady at the B&B had done our laundry for us, so we were in clean clothes (which was fabulous since I'd been wearing my green capri pants every day over ...

Achill Island
Feb 21, 2007 (15 photos)

Mike and I went to Achill Island after much searching for an island in Ireland that was easily accessible. Achill Island is 25 miles long and is accessible by a bridge, it is known for it gorgeous beaches and great waves. We stayed on the only hostel on ...

Cong - John Wayne once made a movie here..
Jun 12, 2007 (5 photos)

... spectacular (to the point of almost being too hot) up to that point, that we welcomed a little bit of rain.  What's Ireland without the rain?  :) We had some amazing 'turf' cake (chocolate) and tea and coffee at the Happy Kettle and headed out ...

Westport
Jan 16, 2007 (14 photos)

Last weekend I decided to head up to Westport, Ireland to climb Croagh Patrick. I have climbed Croagh Patrick before but have never reached the summit. It is the mountain that St. Patrick fasted on for 40 days. I left on friday and spent the night in the ...

The best for last
Aug 8, 2008 (4 photos)

... sleep in a COMFORTABLE bed in my own bedroom...  I also had beef for the first time since arriving here (Ireland =meat & potatoes).  I feel spoiled.  The relatives are very hospitable and amazing.  Since this internet isn't ...

Jumping on the bog
Jul 30, 2007

HE SAID: Unbelievably, today was one of the highlights of the trip.  Why, you ask?  Because I was able to jump on a bog.  For those of you of whom have never jumped on a bog and don't know what it is, let me explain.   A bog is a ...

Patrick's Pilgrimage
Aug 7, 2008 (4 photos)

I'm in Wesport, a younger and more artificial town than most in Ireland.  I came here yesterday and trudged to the campground.  It's nice, outsie of the town but crowded with families and children that ridicule my tent about its size!!!  If ...

Donegal to Sligo to Claremorris
Jun 25, 2009 (7 photos)

... a bit later than usual and got on the road headed south. I have visited Glencar Lake I believe every time I have gone to Ireland, but never tire of it and especially the waterfall. This was the first time I had taken the footpath back down instead of the ...

Ahhh, the farming life
Feb 25, 2008 (11 photos)

25th Feb 2008 Well. Here I am in Ireland! After a few hiccups at the airport (did you end up checking that Mum?) I made it, safe and sound, to the land of Guiness. And whilst it hasn't been very wet it has been bloody cold. I even managed to get some ...

Another tour another first day
Mar 24, 2008 (5 photos)

Well off to another tour with Shamrocker. Like the last weeks tour i just sat beside who ever else looked like they were traveling by them selfs which was Rhiannon on this trip. She is a English girl from around Bath area and was great to chat with. We ...

Westport
Sep 5, 2006 (3 photos)

Rainy morning. Start moving to the west coast, to Westport. Westport is a small nice town and we couldn't leave without having a look around. We stopped at Matt Molloy's door. Closed. No pints at 10 o'clock in the morning... Anyway, if you have ...

Castlebar
Sep 5, 2006

We didn't reach Westport as we planned. A car accident in Derry had the road close for an hour. The rain also joined us for the rest of the journey. It was getting late and we had no booking for this day's B&B, so when we got in Castlebar we start ...

Castlebar
Aug 19, 2007

Hi All Well after a hectic week with all the family, some departed on Friday but the remaining on Saturday.  I am now in Castlebar with the remaining 5, I head back to Kilkenny later today and view a potential b&b and then head to one of my ...