Clew Bay Hotel

Surfing in Westport

by suzr

Two great beaches not far from the town of Westport: Carrowniskey in Louisburg and Keel in Achill. Gear hire is available at both locations during the Summer. Emmett in the surf shop in Louisburg can provide tuition.

LITTLE LIST OF..... part 1

by eden_teuling

what to see and/or do when in Westport....

The choice is yours.

W.M.Thackeray: "The islands in the Bay which was of gold colour look like so many dolphins and whales, basking there..."

from "On Westport" 1842........

WESTPORT HOUSE
One of Ireland's Stately Homes, Westport House was designed by James Wyatt.
It is open to the public in summer and guided tours are available.
Telephone: 098 25430 or 27766

WESTPORT HERITAGE CENTRE.
Located at the Tourist Information Office, James Street, Wesport
Discover the story of Westport.
3D models and interactive displays bring this charismatic town to life steeped in history and heritage, explore the story of Westport from early Christian times to the present day.
Open: daily and seasonal.

WESTPORT LINEN MILL AND MUSEUM.
Northern Feather, The Demesne, Westport
Telephone: 098 25411

CROAGH PATRICK
This striking peak (800 mts. = 2.510 ft.) lies as an imposing background to Westport Town.
St. Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, prayed here for 40 days of Lent 441 AD (according to the Legend.)
He did so for the conversion of the Irish People to Christianity.
A Pilgrimage is held on the last Sunday of July each year when over 60.000 people climb to the summit.
The Pilgrims path starts at Murrisk some 8 km. from Westport.

MURRISK ABBEY
An old Augustinian Abbey which was founded in 1457. It was later destroyed by Cromwellian soldiers. It is located near the Murrisk Car Park.

Reek Sunday

by sourbugger

"Crowe Patrick"

“I’m on the mountain”, said the callow youth in a green striped hurling jersey. He might as well have been on the train or in the pub, but instead he was trying to contact his gormless girlfriend who was in a far higher position closer to the top of the sacred mountain.
“Wave again”, he shouts at full volume, although at this point the use of the mobile seemed to be somewhat of an arbitrary matter.

It seems a shame that a few thousand years earlier Moses did not have the sense to add a couple of commandments on social etiquette when he had the chance. At least Moses managed to deliver his message in tact, without repeating himself. If he had had a mobile it might have been a wholly different story – Aaron would have allayed the fears of the Israelites by simply giving him a tinkle :

“Have you got them yet ?...How long are you going to be for crying out loud ? I can’t cover my neighbour’s what ?....your breaking up again…”

The youth, his girlfriend , and myself were ascending Crowe Patrick on Reek Sunday. When it comes to religion there is no denying that the Irish take their Catholicism with a good dose of gusto. Some of the estimated 60,000 pilgrims had begun climbing before 2AM in order to make it before sunrise, whilst others were on their fifth or sixth climb of the day. The priests had been holding masses from 8AM onwards, but by late afternoon things had died down a little as the less feverishly devout ascended more in the manner of a good post Sunday lunch walk.

Legend has it that St Patrick imitated Christ by spending 40 days and 40 nights on this particular mountain. His stone bed is still marked out on the summit. Whilst he may have encountered superb views over the bay, it would seem an even more inhospitable place than the Judean wilderness. At least he didn’t have a mobile.