Discover Achill Island
Ireland's largest island, bridged not ferried, on the Wild Atlantic Way
What's On
Upcoming events and things happening in Achill Island
Cruinniu Badoiri Acla (Achill Yawl Festival)
RecurringTraditional wooden sailing boat races run through summer, dates set by the tides.
Battle for the Lake
RecurringWatersports and music festival weekend on Achill Island.
New Year's Day Swim, Silver Strand
RecurringTraditional local New Year's Day swim at Silver Strand, Dugort.
Achill Half Marathon & 10K
Returns annuallyLong-running road race from Keel Sandybanks, half marathon and 10K distances.
Achill Island Right Now
Achill takes the full force of the Atlantic, so pack a proper windproof and waterproof layer whatever the season. Conditions can change within the hour, especially out at Keem Bay and along the cliffs, and it is usually a few degrees cooler and considerably windier on the exposed west end than it feels at Achill Sound.
The island that isn't quite an island anymore
Achill has been joined to the Mayo mainland by a bridge since 1887, and the current Michael Davitt Bridge crosses the narrow Achill Sound between the villages of Achill Sound and Polranny. At around 148 square kilometres it is the largest island off the coast of Ireland, home to roughly 2,345 people at the 2022 census, spread across Achill Sound, Keel, Dooagh, Dooega, Dooniver and Dugort rather than one central town.
The island's western and southern townlands sit within Gaeltacht Iorrais agus Acaill, so Irish is still spoken as a living, everyday language in parts of Achill, not only on road signs. The same stretch of coast holds Croaghaun, a 688-metre summit whose north-face sea cliffs rank among the highest in Europe, and Keem Bay, a blue flag strand that was once a working basking shark fishery.
Achill Island coastline and mountains viewed from the Atlantic Drive
Where To Eat
From fine dining seafood to fish and chips by the harbour
Gielty's Clew Bay Bar & Restaurant
Dooagh's big all-rounder: session pub, restaurant and coffee shop, claimed most westerly pub in Ireland.
Achill Cliff House Hotel Restaurant
Award-recognised hotel restaurant in Keel, Michelin Recommended and RAC award winner.
Valley House Bar & Restaurant
Bar and restaurant at the historic Valley House, site of an infamous 1894 attack.