Cathy posting:

When we started this trip we thought that one month was enough, the plan was to drive along the Wild Atlantic Way and also have a few inland stops too, well, we underestimated the size of the coast and so apart from a few jaunts inland to escape stormy weather we have stuck to the coast, we love this island and will be back next year to explore the lakes and castles of which there are many and all the towns that we’ve missed.

So last night we arrived at Blacksod, Co Mayo, a small harbour

with a square lighthouse and views over to Achill island. It was at this very lighthouse that on 4^th June 1944 a weather report was telephoned to London by Ted Sweeney the Blacksod Attendant Coastguard, this report stated that a cold front was expected with heavy rain and force 7 winds over the English Channel for the 5^th June 1944, little did he know that operation Overlord was planned for 5^th and his report that day meant delaying the D Day invasion of 150,000 Allied troops in to France until 6^th and changed the course of WWII.

Next morning it was a gentle stroll along the beach after viewing the placards which explained Blacksods unique history. This small port has seen much in its lifetime, also on 14^th March 2017 an Irish Coastguard rescue helicopter SIKORSKY S-92 crashed with the loss of all 4 lives whilst on a rescue operation.

From this area between 1882-1884 thousands of families emigrated to places like Quebec, Canada and Boston, USA on 15 voyagers. James Hack Tuke, a Quaker from York England had already travelled to the USA and Canada and worked tirelessly to identify land that could be used for people in search of a better life, over 3,500 people from this part of north-west Ireland left on steam ships on his assisted emigration project, known as the Tuke fund. The assistance given was a small holding plot of land, new clothing, and a small sum of money on landing, at least one member of the family had to speak English. The placards and monument laid out in the shape of a boat.

It is so peaceful….

Achill Island can be seen from this beach and that’s where we head to next, on the way we stop at the free Ballycroy Visitor Centre where we learn about the turf cutting which is and has been such an important feature in everyday life in rural Ireland, it’s a hard arduous system, the turf goes through several gruelling processes and is eventually dried out and used for fuel.

The mountain range which we go through is huge, peat valleys surrounded by lonesome looking mountains called Nephin Beg Range, much of it is inaccessible, I don’t think I’d like to walk the trails they look more like a wilderness and more for the stoical hiker.

Reaching Achill Island we arrive at Keel strand it’s beautiful and I’ve run out of superlatives to describe what we see each day on this trip, we park for free in front of the sand dunes and glad to see public toilets over the road for us to use and empty our loo discreetly at night, leaving it cleaner than we find it, Dave also discovered a free drinking water tap nearby, so we fill up once again.

We had a good night out in the village, a lovely meal and a bit of local music with a traditional session on at 9.30pm, all the music events are at 9.30pm, everywhere! The Annexe Inn was an old pub, a bit drab inside but the warming fire, good Guinness and the music made up for its lack of decoration. Just before the music ended a huge group of hen girls arrived, where did they come from in this small place?

We had a good laugh with them and they gave us headbands to wear, Dave liked his!

Back at Pogo, Dave is amazed by the full moon and many photos later he finally crashes in to bed, we’d had a good night and it might be a slow start tomorrow.

Cathy

Useful info:

GPS Blacksod, free parking, N54.09904,W010.06191

GPS Ballycroy National Park Visitor centre, free entry, free parking, N54.02505,W009.82452

GPS Keel Beach on Achill Island, free parking, public toilets N53.97405,W010.07780

GPS Keel Beach water tap N53.974762,W010.082232