Cleggan bay and port from Cleggan beach,Co Galway,Western Ireland,Eire.
Welcome to this wild and wonderful stretch of atlantic shoreline that comprises the Cleggan/Claddaghduff region of Connemara. Here the sea in all its facets influences the shape of the landscape and affects the lives of all who dwell in its presence. The focal point of the picturesque village of Cleggan is its pier which is the closest mainland link for the islands of Inishturk and Inishbofin. These islands attract more and more visitors each year. Indeed so compelling are the islands charms that some have opted to live there fishing supplemented by small farming has been the main source of income. Latterly tourism makes a further contribution. As in the rest of Connemara poverty, famine and natural catastrophe caused massive emigration. In 1927 in what became known as the Cleggan Disaster, twenty-five fishermen from the area drowned during a freak storm which arose whilst they were mackerel fishing in the bay. This had a devastating affect on the local community . Nowadays all that remains of this time are poems and stories and old granite ruins made stark by weather and place has always had appeal for writers and artists notably the poet Richard Murphy who lived here for some years and for whom local lore and landscape/seascape inspired his work. Novelist John McGahern also resided the immediate area you will find much to interest and occupy you be it on sea or land. Why not climb to the top of Cleggan Head where from the remains of a watchtower constructed duringthe napoleonic wars you can delight in the vistas spread out before you - the village houses clustered around the harbour, High Island , Crowe, Shark, Bofin, Turk, Clare islands out to sea, the Twelve Bens to the east and the distinctive hills of Mayo - Croagh Patrick, and Achill Head to the north
Size: 3744px × 5616px
Location: Cleggan bay and port from Cleggan beach,Co Galway,Western Ireland,Eire.
Photo credit: © Neil Dangerfield / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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