Achill Head

The island contains the cathedral cliffs of Meenawn, 1,000 feet in height, hollowed by the long action of the waves through countless centuries, and having a striking resemblance to stupendous Gothic aisles.

We started early in the morning for Achill Head, via Keem Bay.

Traveling as usual on a car driven by a boy, we drove through a unique fishing village, consisting of very small houses laid out in regular streets, and thatched roofs being secured against the winter storms by ropes on which were hung large stones about the size of watermelons.

These rows of stones swayed in the wind and produced a curious effect while in motion.

On alighting, we were delighted to hear the sweet, familiar sound of a pair of larks that soared up under the clear blue sky, so far above our heads that they seemed mere speckles, which we could see but indistinctly.

It was many years since we had seen and heard the Irish lark in its native element, and we listened to the notes with keen, reminiscent pleasure.

Here we hired two gillies to help us in climbing Achill Head, which is quite a high mountain.

We climbed up a steep track for about three miles, and were congratulating ourselves upon our progress when, on rounding the hip of the hill, we discovered that we should have to descend again to sea level at Keem Bay in order to commence the real ordeal.