Ireland’s rugged Atlantic Way, which stretches from the headlands of County Donegal to the foodie town of Kinsale in County Cork, offers an endless array of experiences. Recently new places to go, see and experiences have been added for tourists to enjoy.
In County Donegal, which is the perfect place to start a Wild Atlantic Way trip, 10 new viewing points have been added to a looped drive which circles the scenic Mulroy Bay. Offering a journey into remarkable unspoiled beauty, the drive connects Fanad Head Lighthouse, stunning Ballymastocker Bay and the Rosguill Peninsula, a classic example of the rocky Donegal coastline.
Neighboring County Sligo is home to the Yeats Society, an appreciation society that celebrates the life and work of legendary Irish poet W.B. Yeats and his talented family, along with hosting the world’s longest-running annual literary summer school.
The society just launched a free mobile app, ‘Yeats Unwrapped’, which can be used to follow in the footsteps of W.B. Yeats through a series of experiential nature trails. It also links the many beautiful locations throughout Sligo which the poet famously described as “the land of the heart’s desire”. The Discover Drumcliffe app offers an audio tour of Drumcliffe Churchyard in County Sligo where Yeats is buried.
An authentic new Wild Atlantic Way experience also awaits at Blacksod Lighthouse in County Mayo. Built in 1864, the lighthouse played an important role at the end of World War II, when its keepers’ weather observations in June 1944 resulted in the D-Day Landings in Normandy being postponed.
Another addition to the delights of Mayo is Ballinglen Museum of Art in Ballycastle, the first museum devoted to contemporary art in the west of Ireland. The state-of-the-art, two-story gallery showcases artwork from the Ballinglen Permanent Collection, a record of 30 years of visits by Irish and international artists that reflect the beauty, heritage, community and soul of this part of north Mayo.
The owners of the highly regarded Inis Meálin Restaurant and Suites on Inishmaan, one of the trio of Aran Islands off the coast of County Galway, are introducing new farm stays on the island.
tourismireland.com
