Sept 2 Achill Island (Day 341)
We woke up in a temporary accommodation, not being able to get into our B&B after a 2 hour drive through the dark and stormy night. We were able to find enough beds for the 5 of us at a nearby hotel, Achill Isle House in the nearby town of Keel. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast and headed to explore the area before moving to our original accommodation.
We met our tour guide for one of the last tours of the season at the ‘Deserted Village of Slievemore‘.
On the south slope of Slievemore mountain near Keel are the remnants of a village site that was occupied for about 6000 years. Rows of the remains of about 100 houses line an ancient road with sweeping views down to Keel beach. The last residents moved on in the 1960’s when it was considered more of a ‘booley’ village, occupied primarily in the summer by cattle herders.
Now it is home to rainbow colored sheep!
After settling in at our B&B house in the town of Dooega we took a drive around the south coast of Achill island on a tiny portion of the 1600 mile Wild Atlantic Way.
We stopped to admire the white cliffs of Ashleam.
We then stopped at Kildavnet Tower, a stronghold of the famous “Pirate Queen” Grace O’Malley.
Grace O’Malley, Gráinne Ní Mháille in Irish, was an Irish noblewoman in the 15th century, who inherited a sailing fleet and trading business from her father, and lands from her mother. She was a strong leader and even met with Queen Elizabeth I as an equal.