Achill Island

Achill Island (Irish Gaelic, Oiléan Acaill), largest island of Ireland. Situated off the west coast of County Mayo, it is connected to the rest of the county by a road bridge that spans the narrow Achill Sound. Achill Island is noted for its spectacular coastal scenery, particularly in the north and west, and its beaches. The interior, covered mainly by heather and bog or peatland, rises to 672 m (2,205 ft) above sea level at Slieve More, which is composed of quartzite and mica. Achill Head, a promontory in the south-west region of the island, is dominated by Mount Croaghaun, which rises 668 m (2,192 ft). The only cultivated land is near the coast and on the valley floors where arable crops are grown. In the north, Slieve More descends steeply to high sea cliffs along the coast; at up to 244 m (800 ft), the Minaun cliffs are the tallest in north-western Europe. The irregularly shaped Achill Island is about 16 km (10 mi) in length, and has an area of about 145 sq km (56 sq mi).

East of the mountain is Dugort, one of the island's two main fishing ports and resorts; the other is Keel on the south coast. A tourist attraction at Kildownet, near the southern tip of the island, is a 16th-century castle that was once a stronghold of the pirate Grace O'Malley. Nearby is a ruined 12th-century church. Tourism and various cottage industries, such as knitting, have brought a degree of prosperity to Achill Island in recent years. Fishing, including game fishing for shark, tunny, and other fish, and some dairy and sheep farming are other activities. Irish Gaelic is widely spoken. Population 2,620 (2002).