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The Yawl Blacksod Bay- Cuan an Fhóid Duibh
A yawl (from Dutch jol) is a two-mast- The bay contains many little islets and opens to the
ed sailing craft similar to a sloop or Atlantic Ocean.
cutter but with an additional mizzen-
mast (or mizzen mast) located well In June 1944, Supreme commander of the “Allied forces”
aft of the main mast, often right on the Dwight Eisenhower made a decision to go ahead with
transom, or aft of the rudder post if the the D-Day landings based on the detailed weather report
vessel has an inboard hung rudder. from Blacksod Bay. The Mullet peninsula to the western
A vessel with a larger mizzen located side of the bay, is covered with fairly flat sand dunes.
in a more forward position is called a Blacksod Bay is wide at its mouth and is a safe place for
ketch. anchorage. There are two lighthouses which can be seen
from the shore: Blacksod Lighthouse, completed in 1864,
Inishbiggle- Inis Bigil lies 18 km (11 mi) off-shore out in the Atlantic Ocean.
Eagle Island lighthouse lies off the northwest tip of the
This is a small island between Achill on one side Mullet peninsula.
and Ballycroy on the other. From Achill one may
access the island by boat by Bull’s Mouth or from the Throughout the summer you can embark on a boat trip
other end at a pier called “Gob Na Doo”. This is a place from Blacksod to the Inishkea Islands and Inishglora,
of peace and quiet beauty. In 2007 the island had only where the Children of Lir are reputed to be buried.
24 inhabitants. It is a place where crime, pollution and Another notable island, Duvillaun or Dubhoileán
noise simply don’t exist. (“Black Island”), now a bird sanctuary; is accessible
by boat. Duvillaun, although now uninhabited, has
Seanfhocail (Old Saying) monastic remains which most likely date from the Early
Christian period - i.e. 6th to 8th century AD. These
Bád gan stiúir nó cú gan eirbeall. are similar to the archaeological remains found on
A boat without a compass or a hound Inishkea South and on Inishglora. Remains of monastic
without its tail (the tail steers the hound) settlement here include a Gallerus-type oratory and
Blacksod Bay, Belmullet
220
A yawl (from Dutch jol) is a two-mast- The bay contains many little islets and opens to the
ed sailing craft similar to a sloop or Atlantic Ocean.
cutter but with an additional mizzen-
mast (or mizzen mast) located well In June 1944, Supreme commander of the “Allied forces”
aft of the main mast, often right on the Dwight Eisenhower made a decision to go ahead with
transom, or aft of the rudder post if the the D-Day landings based on the detailed weather report
vessel has an inboard hung rudder. from Blacksod Bay. The Mullet peninsula to the western
A vessel with a larger mizzen located side of the bay, is covered with fairly flat sand dunes.
in a more forward position is called a Blacksod Bay is wide at its mouth and is a safe place for
ketch. anchorage. There are two lighthouses which can be seen
from the shore: Blacksod Lighthouse, completed in 1864,
Inishbiggle- Inis Bigil lies 18 km (11 mi) off-shore out in the Atlantic Ocean.
Eagle Island lighthouse lies off the northwest tip of the
This is a small island between Achill on one side Mullet peninsula.
and Ballycroy on the other. From Achill one may
access the island by boat by Bull’s Mouth or from the Throughout the summer you can embark on a boat trip
other end at a pier called “Gob Na Doo”. This is a place from Blacksod to the Inishkea Islands and Inishglora,
of peace and quiet beauty. In 2007 the island had only where the Children of Lir are reputed to be buried.
24 inhabitants. It is a place where crime, pollution and Another notable island, Duvillaun or Dubhoileán
noise simply don’t exist. (“Black Island”), now a bird sanctuary; is accessible
by boat. Duvillaun, although now uninhabited, has
Seanfhocail (Old Saying) monastic remains which most likely date from the Early
Christian period - i.e. 6th to 8th century AD. These
Bád gan stiúir nó cú gan eirbeall. are similar to the archaeological remains found on
A boat without a compass or a hound Inishkea South and on Inishglora. Remains of monastic
without its tail (the tail steers the hound) settlement here include a Gallerus-type oratory and
Blacksod Bay, Belmullet
220
