April 20, 2022 Achill writer Adrian Lavelle has published his first novel, titled ‘The Keelman’s Fortnight (Volume One)’. The first of a two-part series, this crime story involves a student fleeing to Achill Island to hide out in a primal scream therapy commune. Copies of this book are available to buy in Achill…

May 27, 2021 Comedian David O’Doherty, a frequent visitor to Achill, has published a children’s novel based on Achill Island. Titled ‘The Summer I Robbed A Bank’ the story revolves around a plot to rob the travelling bank. Update – David O’Doherty’s debut novel was awarded winner of the Specsavers Children’s Book of…

August 8, 2020 In July Keem Bay was ranked at number 11 in a list of the 50 Best Beaches in the World by travel website Big 7 Travel. Now the iconic bay has been ranked at number three in Conde Nast Traveller’s 20 Best Beaches in the World. In both cases, Keem Bay was the…

August 2, 2020 Details of the launch of Mary J. Murphy’s book Achill Painters – An Island History in August 2020. This book is currently Out of Print.

July 15, 2020 Achill Tourism’s Keel information office hosts a pop-up bakery every Saturday morning (10am – 12 noon) and stocks ‘Achill Crafted’ local items every day.

July 10, 2020 Plans for a 10K extension of the Great Western Greenway track, from Achill Sound to Bunnacurry, have been approved by Mayo County Council.

July 1, 2020 RTE Radio One’s Morning Ireland programme reported from Achill Island on how tourism businesses and customers are adapting to a COVID-19 holiday season.

July 1, 2020 A poll of Irish people has voted Keem Beach on Achill Island as the seaside destination they would most like to visit in Ireland.

June 11, 2020 Failte Ireland has issued a series of guideline documents for each tourism industry sector to prepare to re-open following COVID-19 restrictions.

June 9, 2020 The 2020 Blue Flag beach awards see Achill retain the status on four beaches, including Keel which represents 32 consecutive years of the award.

June 2, 2020 A video of basking sharks in Keem Bay, Achill Island, has gone viral after being picked up by national and international media. Shot in May 2020 by Sean Molloy.

May 20, 2020 Padraig McCaul Launches Hurricane Lantern Collaboration Achill-based artist Padraig McCaul has launched an exciting new collection of works in an innovative collaboration with the Blue Ridge Craft Company of Coleraine. Five is his images are being moulded into the hardened wax of the company’s handcrafted hurricane lanterns. Once illuminated via…

May 12, 2020 The latest (May 2020) EPA report on Bathing Water Quality ranks four Achill beaches in the highest ‘Excellent’ category.

April 27, 2020 Keem Bay, the jewel in the crown of Achill Island, has once again been referenced as one of the top beach destinations in Ireland. Travel journalist Pol O Conghaile appeared today (Monday 27th April, 2020) on Newstalk Radio’s Pat Kenny show to discuss ‘The Best Beach Destinations for When We Can Travel. Asked by…

May 8, 2019 A Celebration of the Wildlife of Achill Announcing a series of nature walks and talks from wildlife experts in celebration of the wildlife of Achill, Co. Mayo, on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. All of the events listed below are free and family friendly (all except the bat training are suitable…

February 12, 2019 Achill Featured on RTÉ Getaways Programme – February 2019 Achill Island was featured as the ‘Short Getaway’ destination on the RTÉ travel programme ‘Getaways’, broadcast in Ireland on 5th February 2019 and in the UK on BBC1 NI on 11th February 2019. Viewers in Ireland can see the programme online…

January 15, 2019 January 2019 – RunIreland.com, Ireland’s premier running and triathlon website, announced the winners of its 2018 awards for Irish events and named the Achill Half Marathon as both Ireland’s Best Half Marathon and its Most Scenic Route. These twin awards are just rewards for the small army of volunteers who…

January 12, 2019 January 2019 – The sandy beach that reappeared at Dooagh Bay in 2017, sparking worldwide interest, has disappeared again following stormy weather. The ‘beach’ had been sand-free for 33 years, having disappeared in 1984, but came back in the spring of 2017. It is thought that the sand is lying…

March 23, 2018 A very rare white lobster has gone on display in an Achill aquarium after being caught in local waters. The one-in-a-million lobster was caught recently by fisherman Charlie O’Malley in pots close to Dooagh Bay. In 25 years of fishing, it is the first white lobster Charlie has seen. The ghost…

March 23, 2018 Venue: Ostán Oileán Acla, Achill SoundSaturday 24th March 2018, from 7pmAlso on display Sunday 25th March, 1pm – 6pm The launch of the brand new Maritime History Trail is an evening for the public to come and see up close the this new and exciting addition to Achill Island. The 14…

November 17, 2017 Following the return of sand to Dooagh beach in May 2017, a new story has emerged online as Ashleam Bay, on Achill’s spectacular Atlantic Drive, has sand for the first time in 12 years. According to locals, the sandy beach usually appears every seven years. In a stunning video, Malcolm Cooney tells…

October 13, 2017 BAFTA winning film maker, playwright, director and writer Kevin Toolis, whose father hails from Achill, launches his book ‘My Father’s Wake – How the Irish Teach Us to Live, Love and Die’ in Ted’s Bar, Cashel, at 7.30 on Wednesday 25th October 2017. Kevin Toolis introduces the book: On a remote…

May 30, 2017 Achill Island welcomed the RTE Radio 1 Ryan Tubridy Show to Keel on Tuesday 30th May 2017. Ryan and his team were touring Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way for the week. On the day before, he visited Dooagh’s new beach and also went horse riding on Keel beach. The show came live from The Beehive…

May 3, 2017 Achill Island has a new beach for 2017! For the first time since 1984, an extensive sandy beach has returned to Dooagh Bay. Just in time for the start of the summer season, the ocean has deposited thousands of tons of sand onto the formerly rocky ‘beach’. Now that the…

April 3, 2017 Following the success of Expo Achill last year, Achill Tourism is delighted to announce that Expo Achill 17 will once again take place on Easter Monday, 17th April. This year’s exhibition will take place at the new Achill Island Brewery in Bunnacurry. The exhibition will be open from 12 noon to 4pm…

April 3, 2017 Keem Bay on Achill Island has been listed among 10 of the world’s most breathtaking beaches, according to the Irish Independent. Taking its place alongside beaches the Seychelles, Tahiti, Big Sur California and other global locations, Keem is the only Irish beach listed in the paper’s Travel Top 10. Travel…