"Michael Cusack of Westport has climbed the Reek more than 100 times, so his Croagh Patrick and the Islands of Clew Bay: A Guide to the Edge of Europe is informed by lifelong footfall and curiosity. For that amazing view of the drumlin swarm of Clew Bay, he offers not only a name for every island but often a human history of occupancy stretching back before the Famine." Michael Viney, The Irish Times NOTE - This is the black and white version of the book. The color version is also available from Amazon. "Croagh Patrick and the Islands of Clew Bay" is a treasure of a publication - part social history of the bay's myriad islands, part historical record, part geographic research, with the additional bonus of up to twenty pages of stunning photographs of the islands and the Reek." The Mayo News "This is the first time that every island in Clew Bay, its history and other details has been explored for the armchair traveller, along with tales of the great mountain, shipwrecks, the magical Brackloon Wood, and other remarkable aspects of this area." The Connaught Telegraph Local legend has it that Yoko Ono had a difficult experience when she first stepped on the isolated Clew Bay island of Dorinish in the late 1960's. She was swooped upon by nesting terns and swore never to return. John Lennon had earlier arranged for a wooden “gypsy caravan” painted in psychedelic colours to be brought from London and floated out to the island on a purpose built raft as a temporary home. He later agreed to allow Sid Rawle, the "King of the Hippies" to establish a commune on the island. Dorinish (pronounced 'Dorinch' locally) is just one of 142 named islands and large rocks in Clew Bay, and many more anonymous patches of land above the Atlantic waves, as well as countless 'drowned' drumlins. This section of the Wild Atlantic Way brings us through Pirate country along the shores of Granuailes. The largest of the islands is Clare Island, former home of the "Pirate Queen" Grace O'Malley. Drumlins in Clew Bay may be viewed at this site along with a map of Ice Age Europe by Stephen Hannon: https. They were formed when glaciers reshaped the landscape in the last Ice Age. This 16th century legend imposed her will on countless ships in the area. The islands in Clew Bay are partly drowned drumlins, which are elongated, steep-sided hills that were sometimes described as whale-backed. The waters around the island are a safe haven for beginners, and more experienced sea sport adventurers will be completely at home with plenty of secure but challenging open spaces and great winds.įerries to and sightseeing trips around Clare Island and others, such as Inishturk and Achill, are available from Westport Quay and also Roonagh Quay which is just a 30-minute drive west of Westport.As a result, she was famously invited to meet a curious Queen Elizabeth. The island offers adventure activities such as dinghy sailing, sea kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, wake boarding, water skiing, and Sea Safari boat trips. There is the only one resident on the island and there are no roads, no cars – even the postman arrives by boat. It can be reached via Rosmoney pier, about 10 minutes drive from the centre of Westport. The bay is surrounded by some of the best Blue Flag beaches in Ireland perfect for many water sports.Ĭollanmore Island is near Westport and is the largest Island in the inner bay. Many of the hills on land around the bay are similar drumlins. MAP GALLERY This section of the Wild Atlantic Way brings us through Pirate country along the shores of Granuailes or Grace OMalleys pirate kingdom. The islands in Clew Bay are partly drowned drumlins, which are elongated, steep-sided hills, sometimes described as whale-backed, that were formed when glaciers reshaped the landscape in the last ice age. Most of the others in the bay are are uninhabited, although a few brave souls cling to the age-old tradition of living on a small island all year round. With its Blue Flag beach and many historical and archaeological sites, Clare Island is a must-see island for the visitor willing to take a short ferry ride. The biggest, Clare Island, guards the entrance to the sheltered bay and is home to 130 people. It’s probably the most beautiful bay in Ireland, and the views of it from all around Westport are spectacular. Its swarm of Islands (drumlins) are unlike anything else found in western. Clew Bay has, according to tradition, 365 islands, one for every day of the year. According to tradition Clew Bay has 365 islands, one for each day of the year.
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