Navigation:
A Natural Treasure
These are just some of the jems of the western coast. Achill is an excellent base for touring Connaught.
Keem Bay (only 3 km from West End)
Achill Head
Keem Bay was once home to the estate of the infamous landlord Captain Charles Cunningham Boycott, though he later moved to Corrymore House on Achill when his Keem house burned down
Grainne Uaile's Castle
Atlantic Drive
Achill History
Achill Island is steeped in History and if you stay at West End House you will soon learn all about that. May, your host, was born on the island and her maiden name is O'Malley. Her father's family came over from Clare Island and settled in Achill. Her grandfather Brian O'Malley was the in charge of maintaining the grounds at Corrie Mor House when Captain Boycott lived their. It is very likely that May herself is a decendent of Grainne Uaile, the great Irish Pirate Queen from Clare Island.
May's father, Charlie Tom O'Malley, was a well known and respected curragh builder in the area. He was a skillfull carpenter and fisherman. Charlie Tom's workshop is still intact and can be toured on request. He also was one of the last basking shark fisherman in the area. May's husband Brian was also a shark fisherman in Keem Bay.
Bridget O'Malley (nee McNamara), May's mother, was also born and rared on Achill. Bridget's family had a home in the Deserted Village at the base of Slievemor mountain. During the famine the family and other families in the village were forced to move to the sea when the crops failed. At this time the McNamara family settled in Dooagh.
Both the O'Malley and the McNamara families had son's and daughter's who migrated to America, Scotland and England in the early 1900's to find work. Many years later in the 1980's May's husband Brian also left for England to find work as the fish stocks of Achill started to duindle. While fresh salomn is still caught in the waters of Achill there has been an increase in fish farming. Far off the west coast of Ireland there are a large number of trailers that fish the waters also. A combination of factors has lead to a situation which may see the end of this island tradition for ever.