Blacksod Bay
Encyclopedia
Blacksod Bay is a bay
of the Atlantic Ocean
in Erris
, North County Mayo
, Ireland
. The bay is bounded on its western side by the Mullet Peninsula and to its eastern side by the coastline of Kiltane
Parish where it extends southwards from Belmullet
towards Gweesalia and Doohoma
. Blacksod Bay opens to the Atlantic Ocean
on its southern end where Blacksod lighthouse
and Blacksod Pier are situated. Blacksod Lighthouse
is an imposing strongly built lighthouse, created in 1864 from local cut granite from the nearby granite quarry at Termon Hill, the only granite found in this area as most of the rest of the substrate consists of ancient gneiss and schist. It was built by Bryan Carey of Belmullet and contains a helicopter port to service this coastline. The Mullet
is mainly a fairly flat peninsula covered with a great deal of sand and sand dunes.
Blacksod Bay is 16km long, 8km wide at its mouth and is a safe place for anchorage. The interior of the bay, contains numerous little coves like Elly Bay, a popular bay for many watersports and the location of Colaiste Uisce Adventure Centre, which teaches watersports and other sports through the medium of the Irish language
to schoolchildren and adventurous groups from across Ireland. At its north end, Blacksod Bay is connected to Broadhaven Bay
by an 18th century man-made canal
through the town of Belmullet
.
In the summer period, boat trips to the Inishkea Islands
, Inishglora
, where the Children of Lir
are reputed to be buried and Duvillaun
off the North Mayo coastline leave from Blacksod. Blackrock lighthouse
, also built in 1864 which lies 12 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean to the west, can be seen from the end of the Mullet peninsula. Eagle Island lighthouse lies off the north west of the Mullet Peninsula.
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
of the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
in Erris
Erris
Erris is a barony in northwestern County Mayo in Ireland consisting of over , much of which is mountainous blanket bog. It has extensive sea coasts along its west and north boundaries. The main towns are Belmullet and Bangor Erris. The name Erris derives from the Irish 'Iar Ros' meaning 'western...
, North County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The bay is bounded on its western side by the Mullet Peninsula and to its eastern side by the coastline of Kiltane
Kiltane
-Origins:Kiltane derives its name from Cill Seadhna, or Seadhna's church, which was in the townland of Kiltane by the banks of the Owenmore river. The name 'Seadhna' was well known in the Early Christian Period. There is mention of a bishop and priest of that name in an old tract but no detail as...
Parish where it extends southwards from Belmullet
Belmullet
Belmullet is a coastal Gaeltacht town with a population of around 2,000 on the Mullet Peninsula in the barony of Erris, County Mayo, Ireland. Its name means the "mouth of the mullet"...
towards Gweesalia and Doohoma
Doohoma
- General Description :Doohoma, is named after the mass grave situated in the sand dunes in close proximity to the sea. This was as a result of the great Great Famine of 1845....
. Blacksod Bay opens to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
on its southern end where Blacksod lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
and Blacksod Pier are situated. Blacksod Lighthouse
Blacksod Lighthouse
Blacksod Lighthouse is situated at the southern end of the Mullet Peninsula, Erris, County Mayo. The lighthouse was built in 1864 by one of the leading merchants in Belmullet at that time, Bryan Carey....
is an imposing strongly built lighthouse, created in 1864 from local cut granite from the nearby granite quarry at Termon Hill, the only granite found in this area as most of the rest of the substrate consists of ancient gneiss and schist. It was built by Bryan Carey of Belmullet and contains a helicopter port to service this coastline. The Mullet
The Mullet
The Mullet Peninsula, also known as the Mullet, is a peninsula in the barony of Erris in County Mayo, Ireland. It consists of a large promontory connected to the mainland at Belmullet , a town of about 2,000 inhabitants, by a narrow isthmus. There are several small towns on the Mullet peninsula...
is mainly a fairly flat peninsula covered with a great deal of sand and sand dunes.
Blacksod Bay is 16km long, 8km wide at its mouth and is a safe place for anchorage. The interior of the bay, contains numerous little coves like Elly Bay, a popular bay for many watersports and the location of Colaiste Uisce Adventure Centre, which teaches watersports and other sports through the medium of the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
to schoolchildren and adventurous groups from across Ireland. At its north end, Blacksod Bay is connected to Broadhaven Bay
Broadhaven Bay
Broadhaven Bay is a natural bay of the Atlantic Ocean situated on the northwestern coast of County Mayo, Ireland. The opening of the bay faces northward, stretching between Erris Head on the west side and Kid Island on the east side with approximately 8.6 km between the two sides.It borders...
by an 18th century man-made canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
through the town of Belmullet
Belmullet
Belmullet is a coastal Gaeltacht town with a population of around 2,000 on the Mullet Peninsula in the barony of Erris, County Mayo, Ireland. Its name means the "mouth of the mullet"...
.
In the summer period, boat trips to the Inishkea Islands
Inishkea Islands
The Inishkea Islands are situated off the coast of the Mullet peninsula in the Barony of Erris. There are two main islands - Inishkea North and Inishkea South...
, Inishglora
Inishglora
Inishglora is an island off the coast of the Mullet Peninsula in Erris, North Mayo. It has some small neighbouring islands, known as Inishkeeragh. As with its neighbouring Inishkea Islands, Inishglora's geological composition is that of gneiss and schist, similar to the rest of Erris. The island...
, where the Children of Lir
Children of Lir
The Children of Lir is an Irish legend. The original Irish title is Clann Lir or Leannaí Lir, but Lir is the genitive case of Lear. Lir is more often used as the name of the character in English...
are reputed to be buried and Duvillaun
Duvillaun
Duvillaun is the name of a cluster of islands lying south to the Inishkea Islands and Inishglora in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Mayo. The main island is known as Duvillaun Mór...
off the North Mayo coastline leave from Blacksod. Blackrock lighthouse
Blacksod Lighthouse
Blacksod Lighthouse is situated at the southern end of the Mullet Peninsula, Erris, County Mayo. The lighthouse was built in 1864 by one of the leading merchants in Belmullet at that time, Bryan Carey....
, also built in 1864 which lies 12 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean to the west, can be seen from the end of the Mullet peninsula. Eagle Island lighthouse lies off the north west of the Mullet Peninsula.