Beltra Strand and Croagh Patrick

13 Replies

County Mayo (west of Ireland) is blessed by an amazing Atlantic coastline.  This year we have not had much beach weather but we try to make the most of it when the sun does shine.

Beltra beach is just outside Westport. It is just one beach of a number in Clew Bay. It’s a lovely place to swim as the relatively shallow waters of the bay warm up quickly. There is lots to explore;  rocky shore and rock pools when the tide is out; wildflowers where sand meets fields; and plenty of shells to collect too.

Beltra beach

Beltra beach

beltra

Above the beach rises Croagh Patrick. This mountain is a pilgrimage mountain. Before being a site of Christian pilgrimage, it was a site of pagan worship when people are thought to have gathered to celebrate the beginning of the harvest. The main day for climbing the mountain is the last Sunday of July. Up to twenty thousand people made the assent in previous years. This year, for the first time, people were urged not to climb it because weather conditions on the day were so bad (rain and wind), which says a lot about the kind of summer we are experiencing!

Croagh Patrick

Croagh Patrick

Croagh Patrick

A very traditional Irish cottage nestled intot he foothills of Croagh Patrick

 

13 thoughts on “Beltra Strand and Croagh Patrick”

  1. Eliza Waters

    Sorry your summer has been less than stellar. We so look forward to summer and it so disappointing when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Let’s hope August sees a turnaround!

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  2. Jane

    Quite heartening to see such traditions carrying on for decades, even centuries. Have you been up there and I wonder if anyone did venture up this year?

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    1. Murtagh's Meadow Post author

      I haven’t been up – I hope to do it though. Yes thousands still went up with year against the advice of mountain rescue etc and there had been quite a bit of comment about it.

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    1. Murtagh's Meadow Post author

      Many of our places names are anglicized versions of the original Irish names which is probably what gives them their musicality:)

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  4. Melissa Shaw-Smith

    Lovely–I know that beach well. The Reek towers majestically over the shoreline. We often go out past Louisberg to Doogmakeon beach–good walks out over the headlands for seal watching too. Fingers crossed for you that August brings lots of sunshine. Best, Melissa

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    1. Murtagh's Meadow Post author

      Thanks Melissa. Sounds like another good place to visit. I was at Roonagh Point today with some botanists – more in post later this week – but it was stunning.

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  6. Pingback: October Beach Walk | Murtagh's Meadow

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