Page 75 - Active Retirement Ireland 2015_
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6. Keem Strand, Co Mayo side and Leenane to the east. In the former, you’ll find
a hostel that was once a residence where philosopher
Keem Strand is a sheltered rural beach surrounded Ludwig Wittgenstein stayed for some time after WWII,
by cliffs on Achill, Ireland’s largest island. Located at using it as a quiet place to write. Nearby you can also
the head of a valley between the cliffs of Benmore explore the so-called Green Road, a route that travels
and Croaghaun Mountain, to reach this idyllic spot eastward along the side of the fjord toward Leenane.
just follow the Atlantic Drive to Keel and continue This road stretches for 9km and was built in the
westward via a cliff-top road with spectacular views 19th century as a famine relief project. Additionally,
of the Atlantic Ocean. The beach, which is lifeguarded this area is known for aquaculture, with a salmon
during the bathing season, is very popular with farm operating at Rosroe and mussel rafts commonly
swimmers and is the site of a Blueway snorkel trail. spotted to the east.
If you’re feeling inspired there are several activity
providers in the area that offer equipment hire and 8. Derrigimlagh, Co Galway
tuition. In the past, this area was a key location for
the Achill Basking Shark Fishery, which operated in You can hire a bike in Connemara’s largest town,
the 1950s and 60s. During that period, spotters were Clifden, and set out on one of the area’s cycle
stationed at Moyteoge Head, which borders the beach, routes which brings you through the townland of
to identify the sharks and direct hunting boats to Derrigimlagh on quiet country roads. Your journey will
them. The sharks were targeted for oil which was used take you by the blanket bog, a stunning mosaic of tiny
as a lubricant in the aerospace industry. lakes and peat, where you can stop and view two sites
of international historical significance.
7. Killary Harbour (south), Co Galway
First, you’ll pass the scattered remnants of the world’s
Located in the heart of Connemara, Killary Harbour first permanent transatlantic radio station. It was built
(‘An Caoláire Rua’ in Irish) is a fjord that forms a more than a century ago by Italian inventor Guglielmo
natural border between counties Galway and Mayo. Marconi and transmitted the first transatlantic radio
Here, you will find some of the most dramatic scenery signal in 1907. At its peak, the station employed
in Ireland. From the northern shore of the harbour several hundred people who helped transmit news
rises Mweelrea, the highest mountain in Connacht across the ocean. It burned to the ground during the
at 814m. To the south you can see the Maumturk Irish War of Independence, but you can still view the
Mountains and the Twelve Bens. There are two small vast site where many foundations of the buildings
communities in the vicinity: Rosroe on the southern and workers’ houses remain. Nearby you’ll also come
across a white memorial in the shape of an aeroplane
wing, which pays tribute to John Alcock and Arthur
Whitten Brown. In 1919, Alcock and Brown were the
first pilots to fly non-stop across the Atlantic, before
they crash-landed (safely) in Derrigimlagh Bog.
Active Retirement Ireland 73
a hostel that was once a residence where philosopher
Keem Strand is a sheltered rural beach surrounded Ludwig Wittgenstein stayed for some time after WWII,
by cliffs on Achill, Ireland’s largest island. Located at using it as a quiet place to write. Nearby you can also
the head of a valley between the cliffs of Benmore explore the so-called Green Road, a route that travels
and Croaghaun Mountain, to reach this idyllic spot eastward along the side of the fjord toward Leenane.
just follow the Atlantic Drive to Keel and continue This road stretches for 9km and was built in the
westward via a cliff-top road with spectacular views 19th century as a famine relief project. Additionally,
of the Atlantic Ocean. The beach, which is lifeguarded this area is known for aquaculture, with a salmon
during the bathing season, is very popular with farm operating at Rosroe and mussel rafts commonly
swimmers and is the site of a Blueway snorkel trail. spotted to the east.
If you’re feeling inspired there are several activity
providers in the area that offer equipment hire and 8. Derrigimlagh, Co Galway
tuition. In the past, this area was a key location for
the Achill Basking Shark Fishery, which operated in You can hire a bike in Connemara’s largest town,
the 1950s and 60s. During that period, spotters were Clifden, and set out on one of the area’s cycle
stationed at Moyteoge Head, which borders the beach, routes which brings you through the townland of
to identify the sharks and direct hunting boats to Derrigimlagh on quiet country roads. Your journey will
them. The sharks were targeted for oil which was used take you by the blanket bog, a stunning mosaic of tiny
as a lubricant in the aerospace industry. lakes and peat, where you can stop and view two sites
of international historical significance.
7. Killary Harbour (south), Co Galway
First, you’ll pass the scattered remnants of the world’s
Located in the heart of Connemara, Killary Harbour first permanent transatlantic radio station. It was built
(‘An Caoláire Rua’ in Irish) is a fjord that forms a more than a century ago by Italian inventor Guglielmo
natural border between counties Galway and Mayo. Marconi and transmitted the first transatlantic radio
Here, you will find some of the most dramatic scenery signal in 1907. At its peak, the station employed
in Ireland. From the northern shore of the harbour several hundred people who helped transmit news
rises Mweelrea, the highest mountain in Connacht across the ocean. It burned to the ground during the
at 814m. To the south you can see the Maumturk Irish War of Independence, but you can still view the
Mountains and the Twelve Bens. There are two small vast site where many foundations of the buildings
communities in the vicinity: Rosroe on the southern and workers’ houses remain. Nearby you’ll also come
across a white memorial in the shape of an aeroplane
wing, which pays tribute to John Alcock and Arthur
Whitten Brown. In 1919, Alcock and Brown were the
first pilots to fly non-stop across the Atlantic, before
they crash-landed (safely) in Derrigimlagh Bog.
Active Retirement Ireland 73
