Westport

Clew Bay Clare l slan d

Croagh Patrick 6 Surroundings

Mal l aran n y an d Ach i ll

' For fuller i nformation see the Company s Ne w

a ed Ill ustr t Guide Book (Price 6d . ) FO REWO RD

Modern travellin g facilities have placed the Wasr or IRE LAND within easy reach of all parts U i s r of the nited Kingdom , and there no longe any re ason why this m ag nificently endowed d i s triet of the Homelands should not become one l of the most favoured of al our Holiday Resorts . B RITIS H VIS ITORS coming to Ireland have the choice of many ways but for WESTPORT and the West the DIRECT ROUTE i s to Holyhead on the L c ondon and North Western System , and then e

by fast steamer to Dublin . The Channel- crossing may be made either by the E i s Irish Mail or the Irish xpress , and reduced to a minimum by the great efficiency and rapi dity of the large and splendi dly-equipped

passenger fleets on these specialised services . ’ A three hours sea trip brings the visitor to

Dublin , a handsome city entered through a beautiful Bay ' and thence the way to the West — - a matter of four or five hours is direct by the l r Mid and Great Western Railway, starting f om the Broadstone Station . This journey is rendered pleasant by the up-to t h e date comforts and catering provided , and by e varied charms of many of the scenes travers d , f which o fer , as it were , a foretaste of the richer glories at its end . WES T P O RT

CROAGH PATRICK—NEWPORT— MALLAR ANNY- THE RAILWAY HOTEL—FISH ING AND GOLFING—A TRIP TO ACHILL

HE long-fam ous West of Ireland Towns are

winning new renown as the years pass by , as fresh legions of friendly prospectors w ul come and go , carrying home ith them delightf ar memories , and spreading far and ne the praises

of those inspiring scenes . Unlike many other ’ al districts which appe to the tourists patronage , Connaught is no circumscribed area of pretty

n . picturesque ess It is an entire Province , through out which Nature has lavished her varied gifts with a generosity that defies enumeration in al i t detail , and is indeed most bewildering in s

total magnificence .

ODE RN L S M TOURING FACI ITIE . And thereto has lately come the busy mind a e of man , pl nning how to place thes riches within reach of enjoyment by the world at large pushing

out his railway extensions into the remoter haunts , raising his fine modern hotels beside the ancient loughs and under the shade of the stern old ri rril un mountains that look down g y , but not kindly , on the fairylands beneath .

I AY HEAD UARTERS DEAL HOLID ' . Where there exists so extreme a diversity of

a , i s a t o sa natural attr ctions it not e sy , y that

2081318 3 any one part of these favoured areas is more typical of the Western Hig hlands than any other . WEsrP ORT o But , with its neighbourho d , has a s peci al claim and is deserving of a speci al treat o ment . As a holiday res rt it is both an end in ee itself , and a base from whence one may proc d On — more adventurous excursions to Connemara, c for instan e , on the one side , or up to Ballina and Sligo , on the other . Such being its credentials , the subject - matter of the present booklet may not be regarded as labour was ted or as suggestions falling upon unheeding ears .

I-IE O R E T ' U N Y FROM DUBLIN . Westport is one of the f arther outposts of the n ail - Midla d Great Western R way , a wide stretching system which serves the centre of Ireland and Of the entire Province Connaught , besides throw out as ing its branches so far north Cavan , and running powers so far in the southern direction Li r i as to the City of m e ick . Travell ng by the

Midland from the Broadstone Station , Dublin , you may be sure that the irksomeness of a rather long journey will be reduced to a minimum by the expeditious comforts of an excellent train service . And what is more , when you come to the western limit the s ame Company will foll ow you there , and cater for your entertainment by it s hotels , its fishing preserves , its golfing courses , u and its motor coach services . What more co ld you desire

Y S S LVAN SCENE . S WE TPORT is a good , thriving business town at of nearly inhabitants , situated amidst l - l tractive we l wooded surround ings . The C ifden coach es begin and end their journeys at the

Railway Station , calling at the Railway Hotel . One of the visitors ’ first movements abroad might ’ al L S l i o s s be a pleasant w k through ord g deme ne , crossing the outflow of the lake -expanded arrowbe C g River , and thence on to Westport

'uay . In returning to the town the pedestrian a should vary the route , namely , by t king the w - path through the s ing gate on the right , on 15 the 'uay Side of the lake . This path really u pict resque , and beyond the Mansion passes the

ruin of the superseded Protestant Church , and then crosses the Carrowbeg at a charmingly

sylvan spot . Hence the bank of the stream ul w sho d be followed , and the outward route ill

be rejoined in due course .

CROAGH PATRICK .

In the vicinity of Westport stan ds one of the predominant n at ural ' feat ures of this part of the — H I country the famous CROAG PATR CK . This u t al a - mo n ain , most equally notable as view point ' i and as a place of rel gious pilgrimage , is most easily reached by driving about 6 miles along

. i the 'uay road Before ascend ng , a visit may i I Y t be pa d to MURR SK ABBE , which is a shor

distance to the right , towards Clew Bay . The ruin represents a fourteenth - century house of

Austin Friars . To climb Croag h Patrick feet) you cross a the eastern spur of the mountain , and then be r

up to the right , and the path followed by the

devout is unmistakable . Pattern Day is St . ’ 1 Patrick s D ay , March 7th . Again , on the last

Sunday of 'uly , thousands of Catholics , aecom ani ed ai p by prelates and clergy , ascend the mount n to the summit to take part in the se rvices of the are c Church , which here elebrated with great i a r. solemnity, in the Open This annual event is al n ways one of peculiar impressive ess . For as the ordinary visitor an cent of Croagh Patrick , k i s r e under summer s ies , a vivifying expe ienc .

The bold cone commands a noble view . Conne ll B a mara, Murrisk , Achi , but especially Clew y , m t e i mediately below , with Clare Island in h r are u i n weste n dist ance , incl ded the panoram a.

AR AB S REM K LE FEATURE . Within a do'en miles of pedestri an or cycling reach from Westport there are two Objects worth

S E . A W visiting . About 5 miles is AGH GO ER i ROUND TOWER . Close by s the ruin of an Cha el r ancient p , with a quite emarkable east was window . Aghagower the seat of a Celtic s i n d mona tery , which is sa d to have been fou de

. I 2 by St . Patrick t is something over miles l E . r N from Aghagower to Ail e Church , nea i s M Castl e which the ruin known as , about which history seems Silent . A few hundred yards south from the road i s F OF I the GUL A LLE , a large cavern through which the Aille flows . It is a fine example of a phenomenon common enough in limestone districts . fl i s In times of ood , the pit filled and the fields a c sometimes flooded , but fter an absen e of heavy rain the subterrane an channel can be explored for some di stance .

E X CELLENT FI SHING WATERS .

' A journey of some twenty minutes by rail n r from Westport , through a pastoral cou t y, W O l brings us to NE P RT, a little port on C ew Lawr nc D ubl in . P h oto by ' ( e e , R R IS HOO E A B B EY co . M A Y O . B U L ,

awr nc D u in L bl . ' e e,

R OS TUR K co M A Y O. , . P h ot b Lawren c D u l in o . y ' ' e , b ’

R A I W A Y ( 0 s HOT E MA A R A NNY . L L, LL

P h t b Lawr n in ce D u l . o o y ' ( e , b

VI EW F R OM TH E HO TE M A A R A NNY . L , LL e — n B ay . This villag is a capital place with a — unpretending hotel for the angler wh o i s fortunate enoug h to obtain pe rm ission for a day or two on one or other of the attractive waters

. L 6 in the neighbourhood ough Beltra, miles on i i s the Crossmol na road , which skirts it , from

'uly to September a perfect white trout lake . i s o The Newport River after flood also go d , but it quickly runs down . To the NW. of t he w are L l u e to n the Burrishoole akes name y, F rnac F e L L e a h . O ough and , above it , ough g f these Furnace is about 3 miles d istant along the Achill ro ad . The latter fills the fine glen between Ben B uc oo h gorm and k g , which rise nearly feet on either hand . - fishi n For sea g and cruising , a stout boat can a u u usu lly be Obtained without m ch diffic lty . Sometimes a little sport i s to be had in the tidal part of the river .

INTERESTING MEMORIALS .

2 n About miles from the town , a short dista ce an left of the Achill road , and on the b k of the a are u S Furnace estu ry , the r ins of BURRI HOOLE Y s ABBE , with considerable remains of the mona tic church . These are of the fifteenth century . The was c al church cruciform , and the entr tower is still standing . It was a Dominican foundation , and is still interesting in decay . 'ust north of i it , beyond the adjoining creek , is the sol tary ' CARRIGAHOOLE Y fl tower , the rock of the eet , ’ as O Mall e which is signed to Grace y , the mountain

'ueen of the West in the reign of Eli' abeth . N S MOUNTAI PEAK . B e aring away to the north -east the peak of Ne hi n ee ts the sk -l e an d t e p f t) cu y in , to h as - are right , we cross a stretch of peat bog , the o Ne hi n - b ld summits of the p Beg range . Soon the e interest of the vi w shifts to the left hand . First comes a peep of Clew Bay , and then another ar which , looking back , shows us the chipelago

. CROAGII I w hi s a at its head But PATR CK, ith gre t — shoulders , now dominates the scene a noble ’ c r one , rising ab uptly from the water s edge to a

. L k t height exceeding feet oo ing wes ward , o fil e an I 20 h the b ld pro of Clare Isl d ( , 5 feet) , t rown th e sun ues into deep Shadow by westering , contin t us the mountain ou line , whilst close below lies A N a lovely bay , as we approach M LLARA NY , charmingly placed on a picturesque isthmus half a- mile in width , with Clew Bay to the south , B ell acra er and gh Bay to the north .

MALLARANNY HOTEL .

A SPLENDID SITUATION WITH UNI'UE SPORTING

ATTRACTIONS . Adj acent to the Railway Station are the ex tensive grounds , of the Railway Hotel which belongs to the Midland Great Western Company . fir t - It is a s class modern hotel , standing on the 1 00 southern slope of the isthmus , about feet e above the sea, and comm anding a lovely prosp ct h as r over Clew Bay . From the first it been e as - cognised a much needed acquisition , providing vi sitors with the most comfortable quarters , with capital fishing , golfing , and other means of holiday enjoyment .

O I S FR ARANN Y UT NG OM MALL . From the Hotel as he adquarters some very — interesting excursions may be mad e especially to H Achill , Rosturk Castle , and Rock ouse . For e particulars as to these most enjoyabl outings , th e reader Should consult the Midland Railway ’ Company s large GUIDE To THE WEST OF IRELAND (price

ANGLING AND GOLFING .

' Owen arve r am ar The River g , a Spo ting stre , p ti cul arl y when t h e sea-trout are running up towards the end of summer, is reserved for Midland

R ai lway Hotel guests . It i s 35 miles east along the Newport ro ad . L The inks , which were laid down by the ai Midland Great Western R lway Company, are deli ghtful ly situated on the shore and command fi V a magni cent iew of Clew Bay, within easy

ai H . distance of the R lway otel The turf is Short , springy , and velvety, and such as golfers love . i s ai The course , nine holes long , l d out over a n re l golfi g ground , with numerous natural a' r as i s - h a ds and sand bunkers , and , pre eminently - u are desirable in a nine hole co rse , the holes

i ar . interest ng , sporting and v ied

To CH L A IL SOUND . The rai lway journey from M al laran ny to Achill Sound is interesting and beautiful al most through

- out . Onward for miles the sea scapes are delightful — as we look across the intricate inland sea the northern expansion of Achill Sound— and over E e i n - the flat of rris to the N ph Beg peaks . Then ar as we trend westw d , the unmistakable cone of

Slievemore becomes conspicuous , and will be scarcely lost sight of till we reach i t s foot at

Du ort . Achi ll g The terminus of the railway, S ound i s o e o ee , cl s to the S und , or waterway , betw n i and ai n . I o Ach ll the m land t is , in populati n , i scarcely a v llage , and the few houses on the i e i island S de have an air of newn ss , but g ven a i s an d s . bright day , the situation airy plea ant 1888 n Since , thanks to the generous i itiative of l Mr . '. G . Porter , of Be le Isle , Co . Fermanagh ,

the channel has been bridged . B efore that a auspicious year the passag e w s often perilous .

DOOEGA HEAD AND KEEL STRAND .

l al s The one excursion from Achi l Sound , o o Du ort c nveniently made from g , is to DOOEGA H 800 a . EAD , a magnificent he dland of about feet '

- For this we take the left hand road , about three quarters of a mi le on the Achill side of the

u . R a So nd It is 5 miles to CAMPO T, and nother — hal f-mile on to DOOEGA both ch ar acteristic — ’ Achil l settlements whence a sharp little ascent of a mile lands us on the verge of the Head . Du ort The pedestrian bound for g , cannot do l f - better than keep to the grand c i f top , and in less than 3 miles he will descend to the east end al l a of Keel Strand , whence he should by me ns retrace his steps , if the tide serves , to view the re al ly striking CATHEDRAL ROCKS . Returning to the Strand , he will Shortly strike northwards and foll ow the road (4 miles) across the island to D ugort . The trip by water from Achill Sound (Station) to Keel Strand , is a thing to be remembered . r ai t A boat must be ba g ned for , and settled wea her i i s si n e ua n on . a a q These av lable , we descend s KILDAVNET S the Sound , pa s the remains of CA TLE ’ ’ —one a e O Mal l e s— and of Gr c y near its mouth , - t e hug the stern co ast line . DOOEGA HEAD from h wat er i s superb .

I O P h t by ' Lawren ce D u l in o o ' , b . ' T rl E B R I DG E A C H I S , L L O L ND .

P h t by ' o o 'Lawr n ce D u l in e , b G OING T O M A R K ET A CH I , LL . - onc Dubl in . 'Lam e, P h oto by ' W N C IF F S A CH I L } M E NA L , L

Lawrenc D ubl in . P hoto by ' ( e , OO A H VI A G E A C HI . D G LL , LL THE ISLAND OF ACH ILL

ITS PHYSICAL FEATURE S AND PRIMITIVE MODES

OF LIFE . ACHILL ISLAND is the largest island on the Irish

coast . AS the map Shows , it is in shape an - al irregular right angled triangle . The tot area ’ i s ar about 55 squ e miles , and from Bull s Mouth ,

on the east , to the extremity of Achill Head , on t he i s 1 the west , distance in a straight line 4 ai miles . From north to south , facing the m nland , 1 11 was it is 11 miles . The population in 9 While there is still plenty to remind one of the

are . Achill of former days , improvements manifest The island is now well supplied with roads and sl ate-roofed dwellings are beginning to be fairly r common , though ra ely adopted thus far by the f e true sons of the soil . O f the Irish coast ther are yet to be found remote islands with an ex ceed i ngl y primitive civilisation . Achill owes much of its interest to the fact that it exhibits a Similar state of things in process of transition .

D UGORT .

’ O D UGORT 8 f Achill s little town , ( 5 miles by road from the Sound) , the late Mr . Alfred Austin wrote A more perfect place of holiday resort it would not be possible to imagine . There are

fine yellow sands , where children may make their mimic dykes and fortresses ' mou nt ai ns of moderate height for the young and vigorous to ascend ' easy hill foot-tracks for the weaker fis brethren ' hing , either in smooth or rolling water , for those who love the indolent rocking , or the rough rise and fall of the sea ' precipitous and f a fretted cli fs , c rved with the likeness of

X I some time- eaten Gothic fane by the ar chitectonic l am ocean ' rides , drives and wa ks , id the finest ' scenery of the kingdom I think S he prefers ’ i Brighton , sa d a stranger to me of his companion W and if one prefers Brighton , one knows here to go . But if Nature , now majestically serene , now

fierce and passionate , be more to you than r bicyclettes and Ge man bands, you can nowhere be better than at Achill .

A FINE BRACING ATMOSPHERE . l ' . E l The climate of Achi l , says Dr dgar F inn , offers par ticul ar advantages to the invalid com munity . It has a fine bracing and exhilarating i t e atmosphere , and the bath ng facilities are ' ar m kably good . While the average temperature of Achill differs little from that of places as far a south as Cork , it has considerable dvant ages in it s relative freedom from excessive moisture . The ai physical geography of the island expl ns this . In spite of its Atlantic seaboard an d mount ai n h as summits , exceeding feet in elevation , it no great mountai n groups to arrest and empty

- . Du ort the water laden clouds When it rains at g , so it is apt to do beyond mistake , but for weeks together it is no un common experience to have n r almost u b oken weather .

S To V I — H S SCENE BE IS TED CAT EDRAL ROCK . All the best that Achill h as to Show may be

' fairly seen within a week . First in interest i s al the delightful excursion to the Cathedr Rocks , a Keem to Keel , Doo gh , and Bay This com prehensive tri p is about 20 miles out and home from Dug ort , but of this distance all can be driven over, except the bit of Shore between

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ai B o e belonging to Capt n oycott , wh s ostracism during the troubled times of the Irish Land agitation has added his nam e to the vocabulary E u of every ropean language . The views on the r ight are increasingly beautiful as we proceed . At Dugort we have probably seen specimens am of Achill ethysts . At Dooagh every urchin l al has sma l ones at our service . They are re i s - ' amethysts enough , that mauve coloured quart

crystals , and often of real beauty , but very f th e O di ferent from the precious stone , riental t ar ame hyst , which is a purple v iety of sapphire .

So far as we know , these Achill stones are only a ee found in the isl nd at K m .

A FAMOUS SALMON FISHERY .

KEEM B A Y is quite a gem . To look down upon it is to behold it most pict uresquely ' but it i s from the little bit of sand at its head th at we best re alise the sequestered character of the

. ba spot Above the tiny y rises , in great , steep , w - bro n green Slopes , the southern flank of i t s Croaghaun , feet , and spurs descend t abrup ly, and shut in the bay on the east . I i s mmediately above it , on the west , the bold and lofty ridge , that on its seaward face con stit utes a ff the m gnificent range of cli s , extending — from Moyt eoge Head the west horn of Keem B a — H am as y to Achill Head . eem Bay is f ous the a salmon fishery , and in Spring some of m so fisher en occupy the cabins here , but only longs as the fishi ng l asts .

A N CLIMBING CRO GHAU . Croaghaun Should be climbed by Slievemore l a Ma and vi l ge and the rtello Tower, the descent

14 I D a . made to oo gh direct f, however , the tourist al a h e has ready visited that part , of the isl nd, cannot do bett er than make his way back by as the ridg e dominating the N . co t , and then from E dl a little . of the Martello Tower strike bol y w over Slievemore , feet , hence the drop u ort down to Dugort is quite simple . From D g we ascend the road and soon find ourselves at I SLIEVEMORE V LLAGE . From the far end of the village we take an Obvious route up the ridge to as ar the e t of the M tello Tower, and then plod i s westward . A bit of boggy ground , that bad travelling , cannot be avoided , but the going i improves presently . The ascent is fa rly con t i nuous , and not severely steep . But for the glorious views it might, perhaps , be called dull .

A SUPERB SPECTACLE .

ai a When , however, we g n the crest of the . co st — — . E u A A N a e ridge the N . sho lder of CRO GH U f tigu i s forgotten as we m ak e for the great boss that forms the actual summit feet . Except i L al Sl eve eague , there is no riv cliff in Western E urope to vie with that on which we now stand .

The whole of Achill , except what Slievemore hides , is seen at our feet . Blacksod Bay and i Ne hi n the Mullet , West Mayo , includ ng p , and, ee ar sw ping round to the southward , the mon chs

- al l . of Connemara , are in sight To the north west i s L the ighthouse on Black Rock ' but , finest of al l , close at hand , the grand stretch of cliffs , extending northward to Saddle Head . If our i s return to civilisation to be by Dooagh direct , then the descent will be conveniently begun i n ar s u t e e ne t from the eastern sho lder, avoiding h o at t ombe he head of Lough Acorrymore. The

15 preferable route for the untired traveller will l l as ri undoubted y be to descend a ong the co t dge , i B un n afrev a L i s and north , unt l ough passed , thence eastward along the ridge .

SLIEVEMORE . The best approach to this mon ar ch of Achill a ft mount ins feet) , is by a lane on the le just beyond the Slievemore Hotel , and on the ar O a ne side of the Coastguard Station . nce cle r ai of the enclosed land , the mount n side becomes d r f as y under oot , and you mount as directly 00 you please . When some 7 feet have been ll accomplished, you are clear of the hi opposite

' Du ort i s . g , and Blacksod Bay fully revealed

E . i N. s The face of Slievemore fairly rugged , and a View of this will not take you out of your way . AS ai i s a the upper part of the mount n appro ched . heather gives place to rock strewn steeps , but there i s no d ifli cul ty except the trial to wi nd ort and muscl es . From Dug to the summit will not tak e more than two hours of leisurely climb mg . HE S T SEAL CAVE .

These caves are at the N . foot of Slievemore , I 2 about } to miles from the Strand . They are al s exceedingly fine , and se are by no means , ar sc ce , though sometimes the traveller may not have the luck to happen upon them in their elusive haunts . A very enjoyable outing is to drive or ride to

Mweelin , and thence ascend the Dooega flank of the Menawn range . Follow that nort hward till o you can descend to Do kinelly on Keel Strand , e e D u ort one whenc , b fore returning to g , may

revisit t he f am ed Cathedral Rocks .

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