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16th Century. The Santiago went down in the bay and This tight knit community is served by local travelling
many ships through the years have met their end in shops and warmed to home-saved turf burning in the
these waters. There are many tales of fortunes of gold fires.
and valuables being stashed away by local pirates after
looting unfortunate ships which tried to take shelter “Níl muid ach braon isteach san fharraige”
from rough seas. we are but a drop in the ocean
Landslide For 5,000 years at least people have lived on these bogs
of North Mayo and the connection of the people to the
On the road between the Céide fields in Belderrig land of their forefathers is a special one. Rooted into
and the town of Glenamoy a landslide in 2002 in place and heritage, the life here is one for the hardy
a period of high rainfall completely cut off the access and strong of heart though it is not an easy one. The
to the far west of the peninsula. Here, bogland is a decision is a courageous one to stay to work the land
substantial part of the wild Mayo landscape . It is thanks and make a living in the footsteps of one’s ancestors.
to this peculiarity of the land that the people were able It is this connection to those who have passed before
to preserve their independent spirit in times of Ireland’s that deep sense of place that is a very special mood and
conquest. Cromwell never took Erris, it is said. And yet, atmosphere in these precious few parts of Ireland where
this isolation brought with it poverty - the distance one that unbroken connection remains. Every stone has a
may travel for goods and services is considerable. One story, every field has a name.
is well to remember that noble families who fled the
onslaught of Oliver Cromwell would also have taken Broadhaven Bay- Cuan an Inbhir
refuge in these remote regions of Ireland. Cromwells “Harbour of the Inver”
infamous decree - “To Hell or to Connaught” is still
ringing in our ears in this part of the world. All is not as Broadhaven Bay faces northward, stretching 8.6 km
it seems. between Erris Head in the west and Kid Island,
Oileán Mionnán, to the east. Here you are sure to meet
A deep vein of good humour and the resilient the multitude of wildlife that make their home in this
independent spirit of the people here is worth noticing. unspoilt region.
Local Donkeys in Mayo
217
many ships through the years have met their end in shops and warmed to home-saved turf burning in the
these waters. There are many tales of fortunes of gold fires.
and valuables being stashed away by local pirates after
looting unfortunate ships which tried to take shelter “Níl muid ach braon isteach san fharraige”
from rough seas. we are but a drop in the ocean
Landslide For 5,000 years at least people have lived on these bogs
of North Mayo and the connection of the people to the
On the road between the Céide fields in Belderrig land of their forefathers is a special one. Rooted into
and the town of Glenamoy a landslide in 2002 in place and heritage, the life here is one for the hardy
a period of high rainfall completely cut off the access and strong of heart though it is not an easy one. The
to the far west of the peninsula. Here, bogland is a decision is a courageous one to stay to work the land
substantial part of the wild Mayo landscape . It is thanks and make a living in the footsteps of one’s ancestors.
to this peculiarity of the land that the people were able It is this connection to those who have passed before
to preserve their independent spirit in times of Ireland’s that deep sense of place that is a very special mood and
conquest. Cromwell never took Erris, it is said. And yet, atmosphere in these precious few parts of Ireland where
this isolation brought with it poverty - the distance one that unbroken connection remains. Every stone has a
may travel for goods and services is considerable. One story, every field has a name.
is well to remember that noble families who fled the
onslaught of Oliver Cromwell would also have taken Broadhaven Bay- Cuan an Inbhir
refuge in these remote regions of Ireland. Cromwells “Harbour of the Inver”
infamous decree - “To Hell or to Connaught” is still
ringing in our ears in this part of the world. All is not as Broadhaven Bay faces northward, stretching 8.6 km
it seems. between Erris Head in the west and Kid Island,
Oileán Mionnán, to the east. Here you are sure to meet
A deep vein of good humour and the resilient the multitude of wildlife that make their home in this
independent spirit of the people here is worth noticing. unspoilt region.
Local Donkeys in Mayo
217
