Westport Area Attractions

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June 29, 2000

Today I visited Murrisk Abbey which is at the base of Croagh Patrick.  It is a ruined abbey founded by the O'Malley family in 1456.  It's also the traditional starting point for pilgrims to begin the climb up Croagh Patrick.  For anyone who loves looking at these old abbeys and churches it has some interesting architectural features, including some human heads carved into the outside wall near the eastern window and some battlements amongst other features.  For those who enjoy visiting holy places, it was peaceful and serene.  I'm glad I decided to stop off.

Next I traveled  north toward Newport where I visited Burrrishoole Abbey (or Friary).  There was a lot of this abbey still standing.  I really enjoyed these two stops.  Both of these abbeys were built right on the bay, and are absolutely gorgeous settings.

After that I went up the road a bit to Carrigahooly Castle, where Grace O'Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille) told her husband, "You are dismissed."  after filling all of his castles with her troops.  You are apparently allowed to go inside.  There is a house next to the castle where you are able to borrow the key, but sadly no one was there when I was.  The more castles I see, the more impressed I am with the O'Donovan castles.

Next I headed south to Louisburgh.  I visited the Gráinne O'Malley Interpretive Centre, but I only found it by driving all four streets in the town!  There is a small blue sign post at the crossroads in town.  The exhibition was pretty good (£2.50).

 On the way back to Westport, I stopped at Kilgeever Abbey (also a big pilgrimage site).  There isn't much of the abbey still standing, but I prayed at the holy well (Tobar Rí an Dhomhnaigh or Our Lord’s Well of the Sabbath).  Again I had some trouble finding it.   There is a signpost on the main road.  At the first left you should turn but the sign was missing!

After the abbeys, I returned to the hostel, and then off to the Octagon and Dunning's Cyberpub.  I love the outside tables, not just the computers!  I met a couple from California at Dunning's, we talked for a long time.  It was really great, peaceful day with beautiful weather.

Croagh Patrick

An updated version of this site can be found here

June 28, 2000

The Killeen House is nice.  The actual house is beautiful.  My room (#2) has a twin and double bed.  There are two twin and double rooms en suite and two doubles en suite.  My room cost £18 (no credit cards).
I drove through Clifden (where I stopped at a shop for some food and ate lunch by the sea) to Westport, checked in at the Old Mill Hostel and went to Croagh Patrick.  It took me one hour and sixteen minutes to reach the summit.  After about one hour I felt terrible and thought I would never get there.  When I finally saw the cross on the roof of the chapel it was if the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders.  The feeling was amazing, I'm so glad that I did it!  I fell once at the most difficult part near the summit.  I also fell once on the way down, which took me one hour and five minutes.  I wish I had taken my water up with me!

The view from whence I came

The view to the top (I unfortunately was to discover that what we are looking at is not in fact the summit)

The first station (pilgrims are supposed to stop and pray here)

Proof that I made it to the top!

To the north

To the south

To the west

To the east

The station at the summit

The path back down (this is where I fell coming up)

It looks deceptively short!

By the time I was finished, I was covered in sweat and dirt, so I stopped in the Tourist Office briefly and then took a shower at the hostel.  There are 18 beds in my room and only one other person has been staying in it, so it has been very nice.
I ate dinner at Dunning's Cyberpub and used their internet.  It was an outstanding setup with fast computers, and only cost me £1.  I spent about 2 hours there in total (eating, using the internet and relaxing in the outdoor area) and then returned to the hostel about 8 PM.  I feel asleep immediately, woke around midnight and am now writing this.
The hostel is nice and clean, and situated right in the middle of town.  It's about as good as anyone could reasonably expect from a hostel.  I'm pleased with my decision to stay here, especially since it's about half what I've been paying for a B&B.

I had originally intended to visit Matt Malloy's Bar in the evening, but was too exhausted.  Sitting outside of Dunning's was a nice end to the day though.  It was about 70° F (21° C)  today and was nice to sit down and relax after climbing Croagh Patrick.  It's a good spot for watching the people around the Octagon, overhearing the interactions at the pub, etc.