Unlocking Mayo Croagh Patrick and Kylemore Abbey

1. Westport

Departing Westport at 10am

2. Croagh Patrick

Explore Croagh Patrick, locally known as ‘The Reek’ which overlooks Clew Bay. Tourists will have an opportunity to climb some of the mountain, if they wish. The tour will stop at the mountain for approximately one and a half hours.

3. Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore Abbey is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle, in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.
The abbey was founded for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I. We will stop for lunch before we return to Westport.

Unlocking Mayo Croagh Patrick and Kylemore Abbey

- Croagh Patrick and Kylemore Abbey -

Starting in the Picturesque town of Westport this tour Meanders South along the Wild Atlantic Way past Westport House, the former residence of the Marquess of Sligo, to our first stop at Irelands holy mountain, Croagh Patrick, or ‘the Reek’ as it is known locally. Originally a site of pagan devotion, it has been a site of Christian Pilgrimage since St. Patrick was said to have spent 40 days and 40 nights in prayer on the summit in the 5th century.

You will also have the opportunity to visit the Famine monument of a coffin ship by world renowned sculptor John Behan - unveiled by President Mary Robinson in 1997. You also have the option of making the short walk to the starting point for the ascent where a Statue of St. Patrick dating back to 1928 commands a spectacular vantage point over the Islands of Clew Bay. A 5-minute walk towards the shore will bring you to the charming ruins of Murrisk Abbey; a fortified Augustinian abbey dating back to the 15th century.

From Croagh Patrick we again follow the Wild Atlantic way ‘wesht’ taking in the breath-taking views across Clew Bay towards Achill and Mulranny. After going through the historic village of Louisburgh you journey South in comfort through Glenkeen and Doolough Valleys; the scenery and history of which will ‘take the talk from ya’.

You will follow the Bundorracha river to where it empties into Killary Fjord and on to Aasleagh falls, made famous by the film ‘The Field’ as the place where the ‘Bull’ killed the ’Yank’. After a brief stop at ‘the Falls’ we continue to the stunning village of Leenane.

Continue along the south shore of the Killary Fjord past the innagh valley and on to Kylemore Valley; Ireland’s Taj Mahal.

Immerse yourself in the rich history of the Abbey, enjoy woodland and lakeshore walks, the historic buildings and Ireland’s largest walled garden.

- Bígí Linn – Giorraíonn Beirt Bóthar -

- Come with us – two shorten the road -