Achill Island
Achill Island, connected to the County Mayo mainland by a bridge, is the largest island off the coast of Ireland and one of its most dramatically scenic — a landscape of high sea cliffs, blanket bog, and beaches that would look at home on a much sunnier coastline were it not for the Atlantic weather. Keem Bay, a horseshoe of golden sand tucked beneath towering cliffs at the island's western tip, is regularly ranked among Ireland's best beaches, while Croaghaun on Achill Head is one of Europe's highest sea cliffs, even taller than those at Moher though far less visited.
The island also carries a heavier history: the abandoned Deserted Village at the base of Slievemore, a cluster of roughly 100 stone cottages left empty after the Famine era, is a haunting reminder of the mass emigration that shaped this part of Ireland. Achill is popular for surfing, diving, and the Atlantic Drive, a coastal road looping much of the island's southern shore, and its relative remoteness compared to the Ring of Kerry or Cliffs of Moher gives it a quieter, more genuinely local feel.
Achill Island FAQs
By car or bus over the Michael Davitt road bridge connecting it to the Mayo mainland; there's no ferry needed as it's bridge-connected.
Yes, it's widely considered one of Ireland's most beautiful beaches, set in a dramatic cliff-ringed cove at the island's remote western end.
It's a row of roughly 100 abandoned stone cottages at the base of Slievemore mountain, evidence of a community that emigrated or resettled after the Famine period.
A day trip covers the highlights, but two days allows time for both the Atlantic Drive and Keem Bay without rushing, plus a hike if the weather cooperates.
Yes, several beaches on the island have reliable Atlantic swell and are popular with surfers, though water temperatures are cold year-round.
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