Keem Bay is Ireland’s Best Beauty Spot for an Autumn Getaway
Achill Island’s Keem Bay has been crowned as Ireland’s best beauty spot for a scenic Autumn getaway in a new national poll. The rankings were compiled by travel insurance experts CompareNI.com and compared seven prominent beauty spots across the island of Ireland. The research looked at factors such as traveller…
Island Life Festival on TV Ireland
The 2026 Island Life Festival, an annual event held on Achill Island and the Curraun Peninsula and culminating in an Easter Parade at Achill Sound, was featured in a TV Ireland programme. The show recorded all the colour and events of the Achill Easter Parade 2026 and is now available…
Women’s Wellness Afternoon
Sunday 26th April, 2pm – 5.30pm Venue: Ostán Oileán Acla (F28 EA31) Take Time Out For You This April Join us for a relaxing and uplifting afternoon focused on women’s wellbeing, connection and self-care. Special guest and spot prizes Expert panel to answer your health questions A warm, welcoming space…
Achill Tourism Wins National Award at 2025 IPB Pride of Place Awards
Achill Tourism has been named winner of the Community Tourism Initiative category at the prestigious 2025 IPB Pride of Place Awards, recognising its outstanding contribution to community-based tourism and sustainable development on Achill Island and the Corraun Peninsula. Now in its 23rd year, the IPB Pride of Place Awards -…
Circus Science by the Sea November 2025
Roll up! Roll up! The circus is coming to town in Achill and Westport in November, with a distinctly scientific flavour. Achill-based troupe Circus 250 is hosting the latest installment of its popular ‘Circus Science by the Sea’ festival from 14th – 16th November 2025. Events take place at a…
Achill Bucket Hats
You could be half the world away and still show your love for Achill with these Oasis-inspired bucket hats. Available in three colours – dark blue, stone, and mustard yellow – these quality sun hats feature an Achill logo on the front and the legend ‘Roll with It’ on the…
Ocean Literacy Day on Achill Island
Achill Island is to host an ‘Ocean Literacy Day’ as part of the 2025 International Conference on Basking Sharks, which is jointly organised by the Irish Basking Shark Group (IBSG) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The Achill event takes place on Sunday, 31st August and will have talks,…
Achill Island Named One of the World’s 10 Most Beautiful Islands
Big 7 Travel Ranks Achill #8 in the World Achill Island has been ranked 8th in the world in a prestigious list of the Top 50 Most Beautiful Islands published by global travel site Big 7 Travel. The 2025 list places Achill in the company of international icons like the…
Achill Island Sandcastle Competition 22nd June 2025
Achill Island will host a free family-friendly Sandcastle Competition on Silver Strand beach, Dugort, on Sunday 22nd June.
Day of Grace on Achill Island
Achill will host a ‘Day of Grace’ event to celebrate the life of Grace O’Malley (Granuaile) on Saturday 28th June 2025. Produced by Achill-based group Circus250, with support from Mayo County Council, the day will feature family-friendly workshops, a free outdoor circus-themed show, and a performance of ‘Dauntless’ by renowned…
Four Achill Beaches Retain Blue Flag Status
Four of Achill’s beaches have retained their Blue Flag status for 2025, with a fifth, Dugort’s Golden Strand, moving to Green Coast status.
Achill’s Bathing Waters Rated ‘Excellent’
The EPA has published its Bathing Water Quality in Ireland report for 2024 and all five of Achill’s Blue Flag beaches have been rated as ‘excellent’. Dooega, Dugort (Silver Strand), Golden Strand, Keel and Keem beaches all attained the highest classification for their water quality. Nationwide, the EPA report found…
Achill Easter Parade 2025
Achill Sound will host an Easter Parade followed by music on a big stage, on Sunday 20th April. This will be the second year the event has taken place on Easter Sunday and the colourful display will see local groups, organisations and businesses parading across the Micheal Davitt bridge and…
Achill Tourism to Host Coffee Morning
Achill Tourism will host a Coffee Morning on Friday, 11th April, in aid of Shannon Lynch Journey to Recovery. Following the success of its annual Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning event in October, Achill Tourism will again don the aprons and provide home-baked cakes and goodies along with freshly brewed teas…
Achill Tourism Networking Event
Óstán Oileán Acla, Achill – March 6, 2025 Achill’s tourism industry took centre stage last night as local business owners gathered at Óstán Oileán Acla for Achill Tourism’s Members Night. The event provided a vital forum for collaboration and discussion, with representatives from various support agencies, industry experts, and public…
Seachtain na Gaeilge Acaill 2025
Achill will host a number of events as part of the national Seachtain na Gaeigle initiate to promote the Irish language and culture, which takes place from the 1st – 17th March. The events have been co-ordinated by local group Gaeilg’ Acla in association with Comhlacht Forbartha Áitiúil Acla and…
Achill Greenway Shortlisted for Award
The new extension of the Great Western Greenway from Achill Sound to Cashel was shortlisted at the 2025 All-Ireland Community and Council Awards. The awards event, which is held annually in conjunction with the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) and Irish Public Bodies Insurances, took place in Cork on 22nd…
Achill Gift Card 2025 Launched
The latest card designs in the highly popular Achill Gift Card scheme have been launched, just in time for Christmas. The cards are available in two values, €25 and €50, and can be redeemed at over 40 local businesses in the Achill area. Since the Gift Card scheme launched in…
Registration for 2025 Achill Half Marathon & 10K Now Open
UPDATE 27/11/2024 – SOLD OUT! Sorry, all places in both the half marathon and 10K event for 2025 have now been filled. Registration for the 2025 Achill Half Marathon & 10K, which will be the 20th anniversary of the half marathon event, opened on 1st November. UPDATE: due to phenomenal…
Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning 2024
Achill Tourism will again host a Bewley’s Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice event, on Friday 25th October. Last year’s event raised almost €2,000 for Mayo-Roscommon Hospice and we hope 2024 will be just as successful. Join us at Achill Tourism HQ, next to the Post Office in Achill Sound,…
Circus Science by the Sea Festival 2024
The Circus Science by the Sea festival 2023 takes place on Achill Island from 17th to 19th November. All events are free.
‘Achill Island, Basking Shark Fishermen’
Sunday 27th October, The Wavecrest, Dooagh Musical group ‘The Achill Sound’ presents a unique and innovative evening of song, music, folklore and oral history focused on the basking shark industry from the mid-20th century. Musicians Graham Sweeney (guitar and vocals), Lisa Fukuda (fiddle) and Johnny Butler (uilleann pipes) will perform live traditional and newly composed Irish…
Dooagh Folk Festival 2024
13th – 15th September 2024, Dooagh, Achill Island The village of Dooagh host the inaugural Dooagh Folk Festival from 13th to 15th September, with a line-up that includes Matt Molloy, John Carty, ALDOC, Lisa Lambe and many many more. Over 35 artists will take part in over 21 events over…
HER Outdoors Week 2024 Events in Achill
Achill Island will host several events as part of HER Outdoors Week 2024. This initiative, which runs from 12th to 18th August, aims to celebrate and encourage more women and girls to get out and enjoy the benefits of being in the outdoors. The local events by Achill’s outdoor activities…
Achill to host Mountain Environment Weekend
Achill Island will host Mountaineering Ireland’s annual Mountain Environment Weekend this year, from 14th – 16th June. Achill Outdoor Education Centre, based in Cashel, will host the event in conjunction with Atlantic Technological University. It is open to Mountaineering Ireland members and aimed at: Environmental Officers within Mountaineering Ireland clubs;…
Keem Bay Wins More Accolades
Achill’s Keem Bay features in two more ‘best of’ lists. It was 4th in Ireland’s Top 10 Hidden Beaches, and 17th in the world for ‘Bluest Waters’.
Keem Bay to host Cold Water Dip Challenge
Achill’s iconic Keem Bay, which has been recognised with nominations in multiple global and European best beach listings in 2024, is to host one of the Cold Water Dip events for Family Carers Ireland in April. The event is a fundraiser for this national charity which supports over 500,000 family…
2024 Heinrich Böll Memorial Arts Festival Line-Up Revealed
The full line-up of speakers, writers, guides and musicians for the annual Heinrich Böll Memorial Arts Festival has been announced for 2024. The event takes place over the May Bank Holiday weekend, which this year will be from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th May. The event will be opened on…
Achill Half Marathon 2024 Almost Sold Out
The 2024 Achill Half Marathon and 10K is close to selling out. As of today (13th February), only 77 places remain available for the Half Marathon and 60 for the 10K. Any runners still undecided whether to commit are urged to register now – Register for 2024 Achill Half Marathon…
Slievemore Heritage Trail Official Opening 16/02/24
The official opening of the Slievemore Heritage Trail on Achill Island takes place on Friday 16th February 2024. Minister Dara Calleary will open this new resource which aims provides interactive interpretation of an area rich in history. The trail covers an area approximately 3km in length and includes megalithic portal…
Achill’s Keem Bay Listed in Top 20 of World’s Best Beaches
Travel guide Lonely Planet has followed the publication of its 100 Best Beaches in the World book by selecting its top 20 … and Achill’s Keem Bay is listed at number 16! Last month Lonely Planet launched a new book, ‘Best Beaches: 100 of the World’s Most Incredible Beaches’, with…
Achill’s Keem Bay One of World’s Top 100 Beaches
Keem Bay, at the western tip of Achill Island, has been selected as one of the world’s top 100 beaches by prestigious travel magazine Lonely Planet. In its forthcoming book ‘Best Beaches: 100 of the World’s Most Incredible Beaches’, Lonely Planet describes Keem as “one of Ireland’s most glorious, secluded…
Circus Science by the Sea Festival 2023
The Circus Science by the Sea festival 2023 takes place on Achill Island from 17th to 19th November. All events are free.
Achill Gets New Eco-Powered Defibrillator Cabinet
The newly opened Great Western Greenway extension on Achill Island has become the first Greenway in Ireland to get an eco-powered defibrillator cabinet. The new installation at Saula is solar powered and contains a defibrillator along with other medical equipment. The cabinet itself is made from high-grade 316 stainless steel…
Achill Launch for New Seán Lynch Album
The Wavecrest Hotel in Dooagh will host a launch party for the new album ‘Chongie Road’ by local musician Séan Lynch. The event takes place on Saturday 23rd September with doors open for 7.30pm for customers to watch the Ireland vs South Africa World Cup rugby clash before the album…
New Greenway Extension Opened from Achill Sound to Cashel
A new 5km stretch of the Great Western Greenway has been opened in Achill, linking Achill Sound to Cashel. The extension, which is hoped to be further developed inland on the island, was officially opened by Minister of State Jack Chambers. Chambers was joined in the opening by Leas Cathaoirleach…
New DS Lucy Golden Novel Released
The Reckoning, the third in the DS Lucy Golden crime series by author Martina Murphy, has been published. The novels are set on Achill Island.
Keem Bay on Achill Island Listed in ‘The 50 Best Beaches In The World’
Keem Bay, the iconic horseshoe bay with golden sandy beach located at the western end of Achill Island, has been listed in ‘The 50 Best Beaches In The World’ by the travel website Big 7 Travel. The accolade is the latest in a string of awards for Keem, which achieved…
Megalithic Tomb at Slievemore – Temporary Closure
Please note that access to the Megalithic Tomb on the south slopes of Slievemore (from the Slievemore Road) is temporarily closed to facilitate works.
Achill Tourism Launches Xplore Achill app
Achill Tourism announced the launch of its Xplore Achill smartphone app at its AGM in Óstán Oileán Acla on 19th April 2023.
Achill to host Midsummer Walks Festival in June 2023
Details have been announced of the Achill Midsummer Walks Festival to take place from 23rd to 25th June 2023 on Achill Island.
My Sailor, My Love, Filmed in Achill, Goes on General Release
The movie ‘My Sailor, My Love’, which was filmed on location in Achill and surrounding areas in the autumn of 2021, will go on general release in Ireland on Friday 10th March. The film is a Finnish-Irish-Danish co-production, directed by Finn Klaus Härö and written by Jimmy Karlson and Kirsi…
The Children of Achill and Robert Henri – Festival Details Announced
Details of the events planned for the The Children of Achill and Robert Henri History Festival have been announced. The festival takes place on Achill Island on 24th and 25th March 2023. View full line-up of events at The Children of Achill and Robert Henri History Festival
Stars of My Sailor, My Love Talk About Filming in Achill
My Sailor, My Love, the Klaus Härö movie that was filmed on Achill Island, Currane and neighbouring parts of Mayo, was featured on RTÉ Radio 1’s Arena programme on 2nd March. The film’s two main actors, James Cosmo and Bríd Brennan, spoke at length about the movie and filming in…
Daring Dames Circus Festival on Achill Island
The full line-up for the Daring Dames circus festival has been announced. The festival takes place on Achill Island on the 3rd, 4th and 5th March 2023 and all events are free of charge – though booking is required. Friday 3rd March Am I Irish Yet? A one-woman show by…
Banshees of Inisherin Wins Four BAFTA Awards
The Banshees of Inisherin, which was largely filmed on location on Achill Island, has won four BAFTAs at the 2023 awards ceremony. The film, which was also partially shot on Inis Mór in County Galway, had received a total of ten nominations for this year’s BAFTAs. Writer and director Martin…
Irish Independent Video: Locations of the Banshees of Inisherin
The Irish Independent has produced a video showcasing some of the locations used in the filming of The Banshees of Inisherin. The video includes interviews with Rose Lynchehaun and Chris McCarthy of Achill Tourism, and features scenery from Cloughmore, Keem Bay and Corrymore Lake on Achill Island. It also features…
Knock Airport Opens New London Heathrow Route
Aer Lingus has announced a new route from London Heathrow airport direct to Ireland West Airport Knock, in County Mayo. Due to commence on 26th March with daily flights to the British capital, the route allows visitors easy access to Achill Island. Achill is just 80 minutes’ drive from Knock…
Come Say Hello at the Dublin Holiday World Show
Achill Tourism will be exhibiting again this weekend at the Dublin Holiday World Show in the RDS Simmonscourt. The event is open to the public from 12.30pm to 5.30pm on Friday 27th January, and from 11am to 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. Come along to stand S14/T17 and say hello,…
Banshees of Inisherin Nets Nine Oscar Nominations
The movie The Banshees of Inisherin, which was filmed largely on Achill Island, has earned nine nominations for the 2023 Academy Awards. After winning three Golden Globe awards earlier this month, all eyes are now on the 12th March awards ceremony in Hollywood. The Banshees movie has been nominated in…