Day Two

The National Museum of Country life is the latest addition to the National Museum of Ireland and is the first branch of the National Museum to be situated outside Dublin. The museum opened to the public in September 2001. The exhibitions portray the lives of ordinary people who lived in rural Ireland in the period 1850 – 1950. Emphasis is placed on the continuity of lifestyles, which were established for several hundred years and which lasted well into the 20th century.

From there we travel to Ballintubber Abbey. The Abbey’s history goes back to pre-Christian times, when people came from the east through Ballintubber on their way to the holy mountain on the west coast – now called Croagh Patrick.

When St Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland in c.441AD, he founded a church at Ballintubber. The present Abbey was founded in 1216 by King Cathal O’Conor. It is the only church in Ireland still in daily use that was founded by an Irish King.

We  then continue on to wild, windy and stunningly beautiful Achill island. Because it is also so accessible, Achill attracts an increasing number of visitors each year with its numerous historic sites and excellent facilities and activities. The island has a long history of human settlement with megalithic tombs and promotory forts here dating back 5,000 years. There’s also a 15th century fortified tower house, Kildamhnait Castle, the 19th century Achill Mission and the poignant deserted villages at Slievemore and Ailt.

The Achill landscape is also a major draw with picture postcard Blue Flag beaches, some of Europe’s highest cliffs and large tracts of blanket bog sweeping over the island’s two peaks and down to the shore. The 40km Achill Drive takes in the best of this scenery.