ATTRACTIONS: LEENANE AND THE KILLARY

Killary Harbour on the rugged coastline of northwest Connemara, where the counties of Mayo and Galway meet. Dramatically surrounded by mountains that rise steeply from the water’s edge, the fjord stretches 16 kilometres inland to the

picturesque village of Leenane. On the northwest (Mayo) shore, Mweelrea – the highest of Connacht’s mountains – dominates the spectacular scenery. East of Mweelrea on the Mayo side lies the Ben Gorm range, while on the Galway side to the south are the Devilsmother, Leenane Hill and Binn Mhór.

In the centre of Leenane is the Sheep and Wool Centre, which includes an excellent museum featuring the history of sheep farming and the woollen industry in Connemara, along with a superb gift shop. An old grass-covered road (known as the Green Road) runs along the southern side of the fjord. It provides an excellent route for a leisurely walk. A cruise ship makes trips along the length of the fjord, allowing superb views of the surrounding scenery, as well as a very good chance of a close-up view of friendly dolphins that frequently accompany the ship as it gets closer to the mouth of the fjord.

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