Belmullet
The Mullet peninsula is an area of unspoiled natural beauty and mystique, which is becoming a very popular tourist location. Its latest attraction is an 18-hole championship links golf course at Carn, west of Belmullet. The peninsula is about 33 km in length and 12 km wide at the widest points, narrowing to about 400 metres in the region of Elly Bay. The trip from Belmullet to Blacksod Point (21 km) gives a good understanding of the nature of the peninsula: its west coast, exposed to the Atlantic, is completely denuded of vegetation, while the east overlooks the inlet of Blacksod Bay.
Along the way there is Binghamstown, Elly Bay, with its beautiful beaches, and Aghleam (Eachleim), a popular place for Irish language courses. The ruins of the successor of St. Deirbhile's 6th century church with its Romanesque west doorway, her possible grave, and some early cross-pillars can be seen at Fallmore on the south-west end of the peninsula.
To the south-east, there is a splendid view of the cliffs of Achill. Offshore, the uninhabited islands of Duvillaun More, Inishkea North and South (St. Columcille) and Inishglora (St Brendan, the Navigator) contain some very interesting remains of early ecclesiastical settlements including a number of finely incised cross slabs. Inishglora is associated with a celebrated fable in Irish mythology, 'The Children of Lir' (where a group of children were turned into swans and wandered the country for 900 years). the ruin of Cross 'Abbey', a small medieval church the foundation of which is attributed to St. Brendan, the Navigator, in the 6th century, can be seen west of Binghamstown. There is also an interesting early ecclesiastical site at Kilmore. The northern coastline contains the remains of a number of promontory forts.
The Mullet peninsula is a popular location for sea-angling. It is also renowned for its unique bird-life, some of which deserve special mention. Termoncarragh Lough, now under the protection of the Irish Wildlife Conservancy, is home to the Red Necked Phalarope (admission to the reserve is by appointment only). The islands of Inishkea are well-known bird sanctuaries. They provide habitats for a large colony of Barnacle Geese (winter visitors to Ireland), and Inishglora is home to a big colony of Storm Petrels. The Mullet peninsula is a Gaeltacht area with a rich heritage of traditional music, song and dance.
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