Page 20 - The Driver's Guide to the Wild Atlantic

The Driver's Guide
EAT
One of the most fabulous restaurants in
Mayo, The Dining Room brings a whole new meaning to fine dining. Serving a wide selection of food from lamb to clams, each meal is made with care and presented beautifully. The restaurant, which describes itself as modern Irish, has won the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence from 2018-2019 and it is not hard to see (or taste) why. The entire dining experience is of the highest quality, from decor to presentation, this is a restaurant that takes its customers happiness very seriously. It is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.
The Dining Room, Bridge Street, Gorteendrunagh, Castlebar. www.diningroomcastlebar.com
MAYO
TOP HIGHLIGHT
DOWNPATRICK HEAD
N59 (R314 EXIT) TOWARDS BALLYCASTLE
36 min from exit
Located on a remote headland between the village of Ballycastle village and the Céide fields, DownPatrick Head is a place of breathtaking wildness and beauty, and one of Europe’s most dramatic final punctuations. The vastness of the Atlantic stretches below, the rocks of the Staggs of Broadhaven loom to the west and high cliffs tower to the east. The ruins of a church founded by Saint Patrick survive and a statue of the Saint looks out over the Ocean. Without doubt, the most spectacular view from the Head is of Dun Briste, a seat stack separated from the land by a mere 228 metres.
THE CÉIDE FIELDS
N59 (R315 EXIT) TOWARDS R314 30 min from exit
The remains of stone field walls, houses and megalithic tombs are preserved beneath a blanket of peat over several square miles. They tell a story of the
STAY
Sitting on the banks of the Moy
Estuary, the 4 star Icehousehotel was utilised during the late 18th and early 19th century to preserve salmon under ice. Now, the staff commits to putting on a “new type of cool.” This is embodied in the hotel’s award winning and cleverly named Chill Spa. You can stay in standard rooms, riverside suites with breathtaking views, or heritage suites with timeless furnishings. Its Riverview Restaurant is most notable for its high quality food. The menu consists of locally caught seafood, Irish meats, locally sourced produce, and foraged wild herbs.
Icehousehotel, Ballina, Co. Mayo www.icehousehotel.ie
everyday lives of a farming people, their organised society, their highly developed spiritual beliefs, and their struggle against a changing environment beyond their control. The award winning visitor-centre, tastefully augmented into the landscape, has exhibitions, an audio-visual presentation and professional guides to explain the story behind this fascinating place.
TOP HIGHLIGHT
ERRIS PENINSULA
BLACKSOD BAY & LIGHTHOUSE
N59 (R313 EXIT) TOWARDS BELMULLET
36 min from exit
Blacksod harbour sits in a beautiful bay with an accompanying lighthouse.
The approach to the harbour offers views of Achill Island to the south.
On the 3rd June 1944, the lighthouse keeper, Ted Sweeney, delivered a weather forecast which unwittingly changed the course of the war. He was at that time delivering regular weather reports which were instrumental to Allied High Command in terms of planning the D-Day landings, originally scheduled for June 4th. His forecast of poor weather and strong winds led to the postponement of the
PLAY
For as long as the residents of Belmullet
can remember, there has always been a traditional fair day on the 15th of August. That singular fair day has now evolved into a week long celebration filled with live music, crafts, dancing, various competitions, and more. Peruse the street stalls for craft demonstrations and a chance to try the best local dishes or stay active with activities like kayaking, water sports, road races, treasure hunts. The festival closes with a fireworks display and block party, and it is a party you will not want to miss.
Belmullet, Co. Mayo www.belmulletfestival.ie
landings by General Eisenhower, and the command waited for an improved forecast, which arrived on June 4th, with the assault on Nazi-held Europe beginning on June 6th 1944.
Blacksod lighthouse
INISHGLORA
N59 (R313 EXIT) TOWARDS BELMULLET
30 min from exit
Inishglora, a sacred island off the coast of the Erris peninsula, with ecclesiasti- cal remains dating back several centuries, including the Church of St
20 WILD ATLANTIC