County Mayo - 51 Attractions You Must Visit

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About County Mayo

County Mayo is a county in Ireland. In the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, it is named after the village of Mayo. stretches over 2,175 square miles and is home to 130,507 people. Mayo's county town is picturesque Westport, crowned as "the best place to live in Ireland" in early summer 2012 by the Irish Times.

Types of Attractions in County Mayo

Activities Around

List of Attractions in County Mayo

Achill-henge

Achill-henge

Old Ruins

Achill-henge is a concrete structure on Achill Island off the northwest coast of County Mayo, Ireland. It consists of a circle of 30 concrete columns topped by a ring of stone. No care was taken to replicate or reference genuine stone circles in the region or the country. The term Achill-henge can be interpreted as a reference to the cultural inaccuracy of the structure in local context as typically henges are simply referred to as stone circles in Ireland.

Achillbeg

Achillbeg

Islands

Achillbeg is a small island in County Mayo, Ireland, just off the southern tip of Achill Island. Achillbeg is situated south of Cloghmore, northeast of Calliagherom Rock. The main settlement was in the centre of the island, bounded by two hills to the north and south. There are a small number of holiday homes on the island, but they are usually empty for most of the year.

Atlantic Drive

Atlantic Drive

Outdoors- Other

The Atlantic Drive is without doubt an awe inspiring and dramatic experience. Starting from Mulranny this drive takes you along a very rugged coast, dramatic rough seas and cliffs. Some of the local roads that follow the coastline of Achill, and which boast some of the most spectacular views of the area, have been designated ‘The Atlantic Drive’.

Ballintubber Abbey

Ballintubber Abbey

Churches

Old Ruins

Ballintubber Abbey is an important sacred Irish historical site which celebrated its 800th year anniversary. It is the only church in Ireland still in daily use that was founded by an Irish king. The abbey has several modern outdoor attractions, including a very modern abstract Way of the Cross, an underground permanent Crib, and a Rosary Way. It was one of the iconic attraction in this area and also attracts many tourists.

Ballyglass Lighthouse

Ballyglass Lighthouse is located on the north eastern tip of the Mullet Peninsula in County Mayo overlooking Broadhaven Bay. The 15 m tall tower was erected in 1848, but the light was first established on 1st June 1855.

Ben Gorm

Ben Gorm

Viewpoints

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Ben Gorm is the most southerly peak in the compact range of hills that form the Ben Gorm group. It is a 700 m high mountain in southwest County Mayo, Ireland, on the northern shore of Killary Harbour. A good trekking destination and also there are so many things to do and it also offers nice views too.

Benwee Head

Benwee Head

Outdoors- Other

Benwee Head is located in a remote area in the northwest of county Mayo. Over 250 metres high cliffs rise above the Atlantic floods. This Dicovering Point offers some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on the Wild Atlantic Way and commands spectacular views on majestic cliffs, rugged headlands, rocky coves and jagged stacks.

Blacksod Lighthouse

The Blacksod lighthouse is an old building nestled in the southern end of the Mullet Peninsula near Erris, beside Blacksod Pier. It is made of local granite blocks, which are believed to have come from Termon Hill, a nearby isolated outcrop of high quality granite. Blacksod is of unusual design for a lighthouse, being a square block of a building with only a small conical lantern section on top of it which is painted white.

Caher Island

Caher Island, an uninhabited island off the coast of County Mayo in Ireland, is situated between the larger Clare Island and Inishturk. An ancient centre for pilgrimage, it is still visited for this reason today. On 15 August each year, the Feast of the Assumption, there is a pilgrimage to the island.The island has an Early Christian monastery with the remains of a chapel in an enclosure and several carved slabs. The island appears to hold the remains of hermitages of seventh century monks.

Céide Fields

Céide Fields

Outdoors- Other

The Céide Fields are the oldest known field systems in the world, over five and a half millennia old. It is a unique Neolithic landscape of world importance, which has changed our perception of our Stone Age ancestors. Other dating methods and research has suggested that the complex developed 3,000 years ago, and is otherwise a "textbook example" of a Celtic field system, several examples of which are associated with late Bronze Age and Iron Age Europe.

Cliffs of Croaghaun

Cliffs of Croaghaun

Mountain Peaks

Cliffs

Croaghaun is a mountain in County Mayo, Ireland. At 688 metres, it has the highest sea cliffs in Ireland as well as the third highest sea cliffs in Europe. Its cliffs lie on the northern slope of the mountain. The cliffs at Croaghaun can only be seen by hiking around or to the summit of the mountain, or from the sea. They are part of a sequence of sheer rock faces which start south of Keem Bay and loop around the uninhabited north-west of the island.

Collanmore Island

Collanmore is a private and unique island in Clew Bay, only 12 minutes from Westport. It is overlooked by the majestic Croagh Patrick and is located in an area of outstanding beauty. From Collanmore there are views of Croagh Patrick and the bay. It is accessed by boat from Rosmoney pier, a few kilometres from Westport, County Mayo.

Cong Abbey

Cong Abbey

Old Ruins

The 12th century Abbey at Cong was built on the site of an earlier 7th century monastery founded by either Domnall, the nephew of an Irish King or St Feichin. At one time, the abbey had 3,000 inhabitants, who were excellent scholars and skilled craftsmen. It is also the location where Rory O’Connor, Ireland’s last High King, died.

Corraun Peninsula

Corraun Peninsula

Outdoors- Other

The Corraun Peninsula is a peninsula in County Mayo, on the west coast of Ireland. It extends out from the mainland towards Achill Island. It is popular for its stunning panoramas of Clew Bay, Clare Island and Achill Island. It is a place of extreme beauty, dominated by Corraun Hill. There are great views of Clew Bay and the Mullet Peninsula to the north.

Corrib Cruises

Corrib Cruises

Man-made Structures- Other

Corrib Cruises is a family run passenger boat service on Lough Corrib, County Galway, Ireland, operated by brothers Patrick and David Luskin. It offer lake cruises every day of the year on beautiful Lough Corrib. The morning cruise departs from Ashford Castle and Lisloughrey Pier and is an excellent way to see the many sights along the lakeshore. A commentary is provided throughout the voyage.

Croagh Patrick

Croagh Patrick

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Croagh Patrick is a mountain peak steeped in history, religion and mythology. At 764m high and offering breathtaking views across Clew Bay, climbing it is also a rite of passage for hiking enthusiasts. The mountain overlooks Clew Bay and the entire western coastline and is particularly associated with Ireland's patron saint, St Patrick.

Doo Lough

Doo Lough

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Doo Lough is a freshwater lake in the west of Ireland. It is located in southwest County Mayo on the Murrisk peninsula. The lake runs in a narrow northwest to southeast direction, and is overlooked by the long ridge of Ben Lugmore 803-metre, on its southwest shores. The northern end of Doo Lough is the site of a stone Celtic cross which was erected as a memorial to the 1849 Doolough Tragedy.

Downpatrick Head

Downpatrick Head

Outdoors- Other

DownPatrick Head is a headland between Ballycastle village and the archaeological site of Ceide Fields. It commands breathtaking views on the Atlantic, the Staggs of Broadhaven to the west and high stunning cliffs to the east. Reaching a height of nearly 50 meters, the rock is visible from afar and is one of the striking landmarks of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Grace O'Malley's Towerhouse, Kildavnet Tower

Carrickkildavnet Castle is a tower house and National Monument located in Achill Island, Ireland. It is located in the southeast corner of Achill Island, across from the Corraun Peninsula. This is an important strategic site, protecting the mouth of Achill Sound and the passage that connects Clew Bay with Blacksod Bay.

Great Western Greenway

Great Western Greenway

Outdoors- Other

The Great Western Greenway walking and cycling trail is Irelands fastest growing and most sought-after tourism attraction. Running 44km around the Eastern and Northern stretches of Clew Bay in Co Mayo. The Great Western Greenway follows the line of the old Midlands Great Western Railway, which closed in 1937. It can be completed in either direction, although the best approach is from west to east, with the prevailing wind at your back.

Map of attractions in County Mayo

Comments

For more information about County Mayo, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Mayo