County Mayo
Travel Blogs from County Mayo, Ireland
North to South
... over. 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 ...
surreal islands, magical bogs, and lofty peaks
... 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 ...
What the Cong?!
I've been to to Paris, London, Prague and Vienna. To this illustrious list I can now add Cong. We're not sure why we are staying in Cong but it seems analogous to medieval torture. Even all the Irish people we met last night were bewildered why we would ...
Full circle
So we are home. I am happy to be home but I am missing the holiday alot. :( It is very different here than in Aisa. In Asia there was something new everyday but here its school and homework and you get up and know what ...
Galway to Westport via Connemara NP
October 13, 2010 Wednesday On our way at 9:00 am to Westport Western Ireland via Connemara National Park in Lettefrack (County Galway), A bit foggy again this morning but not as much as on Tuesday morning. Just as we got near the lakes region and the ...
Miracles and Prophesies
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
... 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 ...
Great craic!
In a "short break" from our long break we spent the weekend in Cong in County Mayo for Charlie & Colleen's wedding. It was an absolute blast, and not just because we had a whole bathroom to ourselves complete with dressing gowns (ours weren’t ...
Westport
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 ...
Double Entry 7/23 and 7/24
... 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 ...
We Won't Get Lost Right?
... we had potato and leek soup for lunch. After that, we had the option to keep sight seeing in the rain, or check out one of Ireland's Natural History museum for a couple hours. Tired of being wet, we all opted for the museum. It went over the ...
County Mayo
... 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 ...
Shamrocker Ireland Tour --the best scenery yet!
... Westport! 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 ...
Cead Mille Failte!
... Here 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 ...
Two Nights in a Castle
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 ...
The Quiet Man
... a high priority to check out if ever making a trip to Ireland. Cong is located on the Republic of Irelands largest lake in County Mayo. We decided to make use of our previously purchased tent and camping gear and set up at a nearby campsite/hostel. ...
Thanks Magella
Another island recommendation. We lucked out again and as we drove closer to the island, the sky cleared up and we yet again were lucky enough to have another good weather day for island exploring. We didn't stay on the island but only because the ...
Business in the front, party in the back
Belmullet is on the Mullet Peninsula, on the very far Northwest side of Ireland. Yup, that's its name. And no, we couldn’t resist the urge to go. Nor could we resist the urge to purchase a mullet wig for our trip there. So, with mullet wig in hand, ...
15 nights to go
15 more nights sleep and then we are setting off on our trip. The words excited, nervous, petrified come to mind thinking about it. Especially after watching Gordon Ramsay's new program last night about South East Asia, he was in Cambodia and was eating ...
Achill Island
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 ...
Misery on a Bike
... my glasses, or my heady was bowed and eyes squinting against the rain. This was one of the most beautiful areas for Ireland and I was excited to photograph it, but the rain and the clouds hid the mountains from me today. Eventually the ...
Day 181 - 28 August - Not a good start to today
Had a nice breakfast, spoke to one of the workers who was very keen on the car, but just didn't have the money. Oh well. Time to head off. So I decided to drive today. BAD mistake, VERY bad, we had parked in the back of the pub the night ...
Croagh Patrick
... , but 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 ...
Day 7: Westport, Killary Fjord, Connemara & Cong
... time it was at the River Erriff and Aasleagh Falls. Once again I was thrilled! I'm heavy into white water rafting and kayaking....Ireland is full of rivers since its an island and I was wondering how the paddle sports and rivers were in Ireland. I got a ...
Cross Training
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 ...
Fjord cruise, seaweed spa, and an Irish Pub
... 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
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
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 ...


