This name could come from the translation of the Irish word for apples, ubhall or ull. Clew Bay Hotel 3-star property James Street, Westport, MAYO 020 3788 4841. Her fleet of ships sailed across the bay displaying the flag with the Motto of the O’Malley Clan: “Terra Marique Putens”, “ Valiant by sea and land”.Īccording to legend, the ancient name for West Mayo ‘Umhall’ is related to the islands of Clew Bay. County Mayo Westport Hotels Clew Bay Hotel, Westport Clew Bay Hotel, Westport, current page. On the bay’s shore Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen, had her principal stronghold: Rockfleet Castle. The vibrant town of Westport, designated one of Bord Failte's Heritage Towns, is situated in the shadow of Croagh Patrick, overlooking Clew Bay.Ĭlew Bay was the focus of the O’Malley family possession in the Middle Ages. On the bay pittoresque villages are nestled: Louisburgh, Murrisk and Mulranny, gateway to Achill Island. The most amazing view of Clew Bay is from the climbing path of Ireland's famous ‘Holy Mountain' Croagh Patrick, also known as “The Reek”. About this little island Yoko Ono said: "a place where we thought we could escape the pressures and spend some undisturbed time together”. John Lennon owned and stayed on Dorinish Island, a remote island in Clew Bay, which he planned to turn into a hideaway retreat.
Clare Island, the biggest island, guards the entrance of the bay. Entitled the ‘Clew Bay Destination and Experience Development Plan’, the plan aims to create a sustainable tourism destination by extending the tourism season and spreading business across all parts of the region. The bay has 365 islands, one for every day of the year 117 of them are Ireland's best example of drumlins of limestone, which come up in all shapes: ovals, lozenges, snakes, dragons, arrowheads or long-legged beasties. F áilte Ireland has launched a new plan that will help drive and sustain tourism in Clew Bay, Co. Clew Bay (in Irish: Cuan Mó), overlooked by Croagh Patrick to the south and the Nephin Range mountains of North Mayo, is the most spectacular bay in Ireland.