Hello again my lovelies, I hope you all had a good weekend? I have been enjoying going through all these photos this past week and reminiscing about our County Mayo trip. I hope you're enjoying the photos too, as I still have lots to share, and once I've caught up with this week, I think I have about five more months to catch up on, so please bear with me!
We were very lucky with the weather on Day Four of our trip, as it was an absolutely beautiful day. Our plan was to explore more of the Wild Atlantic Way in the northern part of County Mayo, and being able to see for miles up and down the coast was just incredible.
Ancient Stone Walls at Céide Fields. Downpatrick Head in the Distance.
Our first stop was the Céide Fields in Ballycastle. Located right on the coast of Mayo, with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, there are the ruins of megalithic tombs, dwellings, and stone walled fields. Dating back approximately 6000 years, these are the oldest known walled fields in the world! The visitor centre was stunning in it's own right, and the views from the top of the pyramid along the coast were breathtaking. The juxtaposition of the modern, award-winning visitor centre, with the ancient ruins was an impressive sight. We explored the centre, then walked the boardwalks situated near the stone walls, and enjoyed the beautiful weather while learning about some of Ireland's ancient history. You can learn more about the Céide Fields HERE.
Gareth and I at Céide Fields.
Old and New. 6000 Year Old Stone Walls and a Modern Visitor Centre.
Next we drove further up the coast to Downpatrick Head, and explored some of the spectacularly rugged coastline there. Here you can find the iconic Dun Briste ("Broken Fort") sea stack, which used to be connected to the mainland by natural arches. A settlement of people lived on the remote promontory, until 1393, when the arches fell into the sea during rough weather, stranding them until they were rescued by ships ropes. The remains of houses and walled fields can still be found on the summit, though now only sea birds live there.
Dun Briste ("Broken Fort") sea stack, Downpatrick Head.
At Downpatrick Head, with the Dun Briste sea stack behind.
We also explored an old WWII look out post, the EIRE 64 sign of the same time, and the Pul Na Sean Tinne (Hole of the Old Fire) Blowhole. Also located in this area is a statue dedicated to Saint Patrick, as well as the ruins of a church and a holy well, reputed to have been built on the older foundations of a church founded by the Saint. You can find out more about this area and all it's history HERE.
WWII Look Out Post at Downpatrick Head, County Mayo.
Cliffs at Downpatrick Head, County Mayo.
Sunshine, Seabirds and Salt Water. Downpatrick Head, County Mayo.
After a wonderful afternoon of exploring, we went in search of food and Guinness and stopped at the Merry Monk in Ballina, before driving back to Mullet. It was our last night in the area and we enjoyed a cosy evening in front of a real fire as the wind howled outside.
Pint of the Black Stuff, the Merry Monk, Ballina.
View of Achill Island and Blacksod Bay, Mullet Peninsula.
No comments:
Post a Comment