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County Mayo Travel Blogs

Background: Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.

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By McLarkin
November 14th 2008

Weekend in Westport

Europe » Ireland » County Mayo » Westport

Photo 1

Ally and I just spent the past two days in Westport, Co. Mayo, one of Ireland’s few planned towns in Ireland. We took the bus from Galway yesterday afternoon, and arrived to a rainy/misty night. After checking into The Old Mill Holiday Hostel, where we shared a 7-bed female dorm with a solo New Zealander (guess it’s low season for Westport?), we hit the streets of the town centre, which the hostel is conveniently located in. We were mostly checking out the bars to scope out where we’d land for the night, but got in some decent window shopping and plan [View Full Entry]

By Dr Jon
August 11th 2008

Beyond the Pale

Europe » Ireland » County Mayo » Westport

Cliff overlook
Overlooking the cliffs at Dun Aonghasa Fort on Inishmore.

KONICHIWAAAAAAA!!! That's Pikachu, a.k.a. The Cosmic Inferno, screaming into a microphone. She's the guest singer of Acid Mothers Temple, the reclusive Japanese psychedelic band that lives communally on the slopes of Mt Fuji. They look like monks and take their music (and acid) very seriously. Except Pikachu. She looks like Pris, the berserk android from Blade Runner. The Pale refers to the tiny patch of territory around Dublin that the English first controlled. Beyond that patch, beyond the Pale, as our expression goes, [View Full Entry]

By Wanderly Wagon
July 16th 2008

Four Paddies and Croagh Patrick

Europe » Ireland » County Mayo

irish traffic jam

Where For those who don’t know, Croagh Patrick is not Irelands highest mountain but definitely it's most famous. For 40 days and 40 nights St. Patrick fasted on top of the ‘reek’ before he banished snakes from Ireland!! People climb the reek all year round but on the last Sunday in July over 25,000 people congregate at the bottom of the reek to make the climb up the holy mountain which is 764mts above sea level. Why Machu Picchu and the Inca trail provided the inspiration to climb Croagh Patrick. We plan to do the trail next May and after reading [View Full Entry]

By Bothan Taistil
July 14th 2008

Republic of Ireland

Europe » Ireland » County Mayo

Oscar Wilde

July 14, 2008, Monday Castlebar, County Mayo Republic of Ireland to Sligo, to Londonderry, N. Ireland Sligo was our first stop, this is the place W. B. Yeats, Ireland's best know poet, was born into a prominent local family. Strolling around the town we came across the metal sculpture of WM Yeats. ( The road today was very do-able and a big improvement) It was a long drive today from Castlebar to Londonderry, Northern Ireland. ( I hope my Aunt Mildred isn't turning over in her grave, Maureen in N. Ireland??) The only campground in Londonderry is a part of [View Full Entry]

By show me the world
July 1st 2008

And so it begins ....

Europe » Ireland » County Mayo

well pretty much as the title says and not lol!! Well myself and Mr M have decided after much discussion over the past seven years that we'll just go for it so the saving in earnest begins and we are now looking at the atlas picking out places we want to go to and watching every show on the travel channel to get ideas. I've always wanted to travel from as far back as I can remember. My parents took us all over Europe when our friends in school were getting their two weeks in Spain and we had the best [View Full Entry]

By NwYrBby
May 19th 2008

Day Eleven: The Long 5 Hour Drive

Europe » Ireland » County Mayo

Carrickfurgus Castle "The Crapper"

Drove back to Carrickfergus Castle and toured for an hour. We then started our long drive across Ireland. We are staying overnight in Castlebar and ate dinner at Cox’s Restaurant. [View Full Entry]

By Fikev
March 20th 2008

The Irish Republic

Europe » Ireland » County Mayo » Westport

We’re now in County Mayo at Kinsallagh, overlooking Clew Bay and Achill Island, with the Atlantic pounding on the other side, at a very cosy B&B. Behind us is Croagh Padraig - the hill on which St Patrick is said to have fasted forty days and nights, and where he banished the snakes and toads of Ireland (with the exception of one type). The weather is getting cooler - and the long johns have made an appearance! First night in Ireland was in Country Wexford in the SE of Ireland. Stayed at our first Irish B&B (the Haven Lodge at Wellington [View Full Entry]

By digital_explorer
March 19th 2008

A holy place in ireland

Europe » Ireland » County Mayo

Some photos are posted here!
[url=http://www.trivago.co.uk/ireland-31465/digital_explorer-11883m/]Please "CLICK" here for the link of DigitalExplorer Photos in Ireland[/url]

Last weekend, I joined my Irish friends to visit the western part of the Republic of Ireland. We stayed overnight in Ballymote and visited Ballina, Inniscrone, and the place called Knock. I dont have any idea about this small town in County Mayo. Even my Irish friends did not bother to tell me prior to the visit, until we reached the place - the Knock Shrine. As I stepped out from the car, my friends started to explain the significance of the place for the Irish Catholic community, or even for Christians around the world! Why? Because the apparation of our [View Full Entry]

By karmi
March 15th 2008

au pair in Ireland

Europe » Ireland » County Mayo

hi guys. I am reading your bloggs, and have to say, they are amazing. I will try to write something about my second job as a babysiter abroad. It was in a year 2006 (march). I was 19year girl, looking for new adventures, experiences, something different and of course earnings. Just imagine most beautiful place that touches your soul and breaks your heart to leave behind. Where nature is at its best, where natural beauty is everywhere. Imagine a place where you are welcomed by a warm and friendly people, who give you the attention you deserve and who are interested [View Full Entry]

By Chelle and Izzy
August 7th 2007

Crossing the Border

Europe » Ireland » County Mayo » Westport

On the Road Again

Driving around Ireland certainly isn’t as bad as driving in Australia - there is a lot more to see for starters! But today, we had a bit of a boring drive - through Sligo and onto Westport. We didn’t stop much along the way, and after a quick visit to the Tourist Info Centre to book our accommodation, we split up and went our separate ways. Ryan and KB wanted to check out the coastal sights, while Iz and I were more than happy to take the more direct route, straight into Westport. This is a charming town with flowering hanging [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Europe » Ireland » County Mayo