Sinead’s Guidebook for Ocean View Penthouse at The Harbour Mills
Mountain Climbing
Nicknamed the Reek, is a 750 metres (2,500 feet) mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in Mayo. It is 8 km from Westport, overlooks Clew Bay. It is the fourth highest mountain in Mayo after Mweelrea, Nephin and Barrclashcame.
Last Sunday of July thousands climb as part of the pilgrimage.
Croagh Patrick is fairly difficult in places, as it's steep, there are uneven rocks to get over and the upper slopes are slippery with loose scree. The tricky upper slopes require good fitness and flexibility (and a head for heights!).
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Croagh Patrick
Nicknamed the Reek, is a 750 metres (2,500 feet) mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in Mayo. It is 8 km from Westport, overlooks Clew Bay. It is the fourth highest mountain in Mayo after Mweelrea, Nephin and Barrclashcame.
Last Sunday of July thousands climb as part of the pilgrimage.
Croagh Patrick is fairly difficult in places, as it's steep, there are uneven rocks to get over and the upper slopes are slippery with loose scree. The tricky upper slopes require good fitness and flexibility (and a head for heights!).
Is 806 metres (2646 ft), is the highest standalone mountain in Ireland and the second-highest peak in Connaught. Part of the Neiphin Beag Range bounded by Lough Conn to the east, Windy Gap to the south, and Birreencorragh mountain to the west.
The trail is described as difficult and more challenging in bad weather.
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Nephin
Is 806 metres (2646 ft), is the highest standalone mountain in Ireland and the second-highest peak in Connaught. Part of the Neiphin Beag Range bounded by Lough Conn to the east, Windy Gap to the south, and Birreencorragh mountain to the west.
The trail is described as difficult and more challenging in bad weather.
A 2 hour loop walk in Connemara, this route follows gravel paths, wooden boardwalk and steps up the slopes of magnificent Diamond Hill.
Strenuous but satisfying, the trail through Connemara National Park climbs up to Diamond Hill’s summit (400m) and showcases the breadth of Connemara’s coastline - including the idyllic islands of Inishturk, Inishbofin and Inishark and pretty Ballynakill Harbour. The sweeping views from the summit also stretch to the majestic Twelve Pins, Mweelrea and Tully Mountains.
Reward yourself after the trail with a coffee and a treat in the park’s café and tea rooms or visit nearby Letterfrack or Kylemore Abbey for more delicious dining options.
GPS: 53.550203851376, -9.9453294129489
Take a trip to Kylemore Abbey on route.
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Diamond Hill
A 2 hour loop walk in Connemara, this route follows gravel paths, wooden boardwalk and steps up the slopes of magnificent Diamond Hill.
Strenuous but satisfying, the trail through Connemara National Park climbs up to Diamond Hill’s summit (400m) and showcases the breadth of Connemara’s coastline - including the idyllic islands of Inishturk, Inishbofin and Inishark and pretty Ballynakill Harbour. The sweeping views from the summit also stretch to the majestic Twelve Pins, Mweelrea and Tully Mountains.
Reward yourself after the trail with a coffee and a treat in the park’s café and tea rooms or visit nearby Letterfrack or Kylemore Abbey for more delicious dining options.
GPS: 53.550203851376, -9.9453294129489
Take a trip to Kylemore Abbey on route.
Stands at 814 metres (2,671 ft). Mweelrea is the highest mountain in Connaught.
Suitable only for experienced hillwalkers on a nice clear day. Not to be climbed on foggy/misty weather due to very dangerous drops.
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Mweelrea
Stands at 814 metres (2,671 ft). Mweelrea is the highest mountain in Connaught.
Suitable only for experienced hillwalkers on a nice clear day. Not to be climbed on foggy/misty weather due to very dangerous drops.
Museums and National Monuments
In the modern exhibition galleries, immerse yourself in objects, rare archive photography and films that explore Ireland’s rural past and an almost vanished but recent way of life. Next to this, visit a Victorian Gothic mansion known as Turlough House home of the Fitzgerald family, to whom the estate was granted under the Cromwellian land settlements of the mid-seventeenth century.
The estate consisted of almost 8,500 acres requiring many indoor servants and outdoor estate workers to maintain the house and lands. In 1915, the Congested Districts Board – established to initiate economic improvements along the western seaboard – purchased and re-distributed the Fitzgerald estate.
A notable family member was George Robert, son of George and later known as the ‘Fighting Fitzgerald’. Famous for his brave and reckless horsemanship, and a renowned duellist, George Robert was involved in a number of disputes and family quarrels. He was found guilty of murder and hanged in Castlebar, Co. Mayo in 1786.
His younger brother Charles Lionel would inherit the Turlough Park estate.
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Turlough Park House
In the modern exhibition galleries, immerse yourself in objects, rare archive photography and films that explore Ireland’s rural past and an almost vanished but recent way of life. Next to this, visit a Victorian Gothic mansion known as Turlough House home of the Fitzgerald family, to whom the estate was granted under the Cromwellian land settlements of the mid-seventeenth century.
The estate consisted of almost 8,500 acres requiring many indoor servants and outdoor estate workers to maintain the house and lands. In 1915, the Congested Districts Board – established to initiate economic improvements along the western seaboard – purchased and re-distributed the Fitzgerald estate.
A notable family member was George Robert, son of George and later known as the ‘Fighting Fitzgerald’. Famous for his brave and reckless horsemanship, and a renowned duellist, George Robert was involved in a number of disputes and family quarrels. He was found guilty of murder and hanged in Castlebar, Co. Mayo in 1786.
His younger brother Charles Lionel would inherit the Turlough Park estate.
Murrisk lies at the foot of Croagh Patrick.
One million people died in Ireland from disease and starvation during the Great Famine of 1845 to 1849, arguably the single greatest disaster in Irish history.
In 1996 the Irish Government invited nominations for a suitable location for a National Famine Memorial to commemorate this great period of hunger and Murrisk was chosen as the appropriate site.
The result was the Famine Ship, a bronze memorial, with skeletal figures symbolising the many people who died in the "Coffin Ships" that set sail from Ireland in desperate hope of escaping to a better life.
Great Famine National Monument
Murrisk lies at the foot of Croagh Patrick.
One million people died in Ireland from disease and starvation during the Great Famine of 1845 to 1849, arguably the single greatest disaster in Irish history.
In 1996 the Irish Government invited nominations for a suitable location for a National Famine Memorial to commemorate this great period of hunger and Murrisk was chosen as the appropriate site.
The result was the Famine Ship, a bronze memorial, with skeletal figures symbolising the many people who died in the "Coffin Ships" that set sail from Ireland in desperate hope of escaping to a better life.
Founded by King Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair in 1216. Despite being suppressed and damaged during the Protestant Reformation, the roofless abbey continued to be used throughout penal times by Catholics. In 1963, extensive excavations were carried out prior to starting restoration work. By 1966, the nave had been restored and re-roofed, in time for the 750th anniversary of the abbey's foundation although work continued until 1969. In 1997, the Chapter House and Dorter area were restored and re-roofed. In 2016, during the 800th anniversary celebrations,[1] planning permission to restore the entire east wing was granted.
The abbey has several modern outdoor attractions, including a very modern abstract Way of the Cross, an underground permanent Crib, and a Rosary Way. There is a small museum. The abbey marks the beginning of Tochar Phádraig, the ancient pilgrimage route to Croagh Patrick, reopened by Pilgrim Paths of Ireland.
No record of the history of Ballintubber would be complete without mention of the notorious priest hunter Seán na Sagart – John of the priest.
His name was John Malowney. Tradition say he became a priest hunter when he was caught stealing a horse. The penalty for this ‘crime’ was hanging. However, on the night before the hanging Bingham, the Sherrif of Mayo, made a bargain with him – he would have his freedom provided he paid a certain rent each year – “a priest’s head”.
It was Penal Times, when for political more than religious reasons, teachers, priests and bishops had a price on their heads. It is said that Seán was responsible for the capture of a good number of priests. He had protection of the soldiers wherever he went.
There were two priests in this area but Seán could get no trace of them. He tried a trick. He went to his sister Nancy and pretended he was dying and he wished to confess his awful crimes and be forgiven before he met his Maker.
Finally, Nancy believed him and sent for the older of the priests – Fr Kilger. But as Fr Kilger was bending over him hearing his confessions Seán stabbed him in the heart with the dagger he had hidden under the blanket. Next day they brought the body of Fr Kilger to the graveyard for burial and the other young priest came to bless the grave, disguised as a woman. Seán recognised him but before he could kill him the young priest, Fr Burke ran. The chase lasted all day until finally in Hession’s field near Partry the priest stumbled, and Seán flung the dagger and caught the priest in the leg and incapacitated him. Seán was about to kill the priest when a peddler (John McCann) who had followed them came up and shouted to the priest to pull the dagger out out of his leg and he in turn attacked Seán with his own dagger.
The soldiers found the body of Seán na Sagart next day and buried him in the graveyard in Ballintubber. But the people of the area took his body out of the grave and threw it into the local lake. The priest who hand now fled ordered them to drag the lake for his body and to bury it in the graveyard.
The people did find the body and buried it in the graveyard. But they didn’t bury him facing the east and the rising sun as all the other dead lie in waiting for Christ to come again in glory from the East. No, they buried him facing the north, where the sun never rises. An ash sapling grew up and became a tree and split his grave in two.
That tree can still be seeing standing in the grounds of Ballintubber Abbey today and it is known as the “Seán na Sagart tree” Go ndéana Dia Trocaire ar a anam.
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Ballintubber Abbey
Founded by King Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair in 1216. Despite being suppressed and damaged during the Protestant Reformation, the roofless abbey continued to be used throughout penal times by Catholics. In 1963, extensive excavations were carried out prior to starting restoration work. By 1966, the nave had been restored and re-roofed, in time for the 750th anniversary of the abbey's foundation although work continued until 1969. In 1997, the Chapter House and Dorter area were restored and re-roofed. In 2016, during the 800th anniversary celebrations,[1] planning permission to restore the entire east wing was granted.
The abbey has several modern outdoor attractions, including a very modern abstract Way of the Cross, an underground permanent Crib, and a Rosary Way. There is a small museum. The abbey marks the beginning of Tochar Phádraig, the ancient pilgrimage route to Croagh Patrick, reopened by Pilgrim Paths of Ireland.
No record of the history of Ballintubber would be complete without mention of the notorious priest hunter Seán na Sagart – John of the priest.
His name was John Malowney. Tradition say he became a priest hunter when he was caught stealing a horse. The penalty for this ‘crime’ was hanging. However, on the night before the hanging Bingham, the Sherrif of Mayo, made a bargain with him – he would have his freedom provided he paid a certain rent each year – “a priest’s head”.
It was Penal Times, when for political more than religious reasons, teachers, priests and bishops had a price on their heads. It is said that Seán was responsible for the capture of a good number of priests. He had protection of the soldiers wherever he went.
There were two priests in this area but Seán could get no trace of them. He tried a trick. He went to his sister Nancy and pretended he was dying and he wished to confess his awful crimes and be forgiven before he met his Maker.
Finally, Nancy believed him and sent for the older of the priests – Fr Kilger. But as Fr Kilger was bending over him hearing his confessions Seán stabbed him in the heart with the dagger he had hidden under the blanket. Next day they brought the body of Fr Kilger to the graveyard for burial and the other young priest came to bless the grave, disguised as a woman. Seán recognised him but before he could kill him the young priest, Fr Burke ran. The chase lasted all day until finally in Hession’s field near Partry the priest stumbled, and Seán flung the dagger and caught the priest in the leg and incapacitated him. Seán was about to kill the priest when a peddler (John McCann) who had followed them came up and shouted to the priest to pull the dagger out out of his leg and he in turn attacked Seán with his own dagger.
The soldiers found the body of Seán na Sagart next day and buried him in the graveyard in Ballintubber. But the people of the area took his body out of the grave and threw it into the local lake. The priest who hand now fled ordered them to drag the lake for his body and to bury it in the graveyard.
The people did find the body and buried it in the graveyard. But they didn’t bury him facing the east and the rising sun as all the other dead lie in waiting for Christ to come again in glory from the East. No, they buried him facing the north, where the sun never rises. An ash sapling grew up and became a tree and split his grave in two.
That tree can still be seeing standing in the grounds of Ballintubber Abbey today and it is known as the “Seán na Sagart tree” Go ndéana Dia Trocaire ar a anam.
The most extensive Stone Age monument in the world, consisting of field systems, dwelling areas and megalithic tombs. The stone walled fields, extending over thousands of acres are almost 6,000 years old, the oldest known in the world. They are covered by a natural blanket bog with its own unique vegetation and wildlife. The Visitor Centre has won several awards, including the Gold Medal for architecture.
Visit Downpatrick Head close by.
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塞德田野
GlenurlaThe most extensive Stone Age monument in the world, consisting of field systems, dwelling areas and megalithic tombs. The stone walled fields, extending over thousands of acres are almost 6,000 years old, the oldest known in the world. They are covered by a natural blanket bog with its own unique vegetation and wildlife. The Visitor Centre has won several awards, including the Gold Medal for architecture.
Visit Downpatrick Head close by.
The Heritage Centre preserves and showcases the true heritage of life in the Mayo area, from farming, house and home, to jobs and work, to celebration of life.
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Hennigan's Heritage Centre
Swinford RoadThe Heritage Centre preserves and showcases the true heritage of life in the Mayo area, from farming, house and home, to jobs and work, to celebration of life.