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Cleggan ~
Clifden
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Cleggan is a picturesque
fishing village in County Galway, Ireland. The village lies
7 miles (10 km) northwest of Clifden and is situated at the
head of Cleggan Bay.
A focal point of the village is the pier, built by Alexander
Nimmo in 1822 and extended in 1908. Ferries leave the pier
daily for
Inishbofin, and there is also a ferry to
Inishturk. |
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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 permanently.
Traditionally 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 .
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Nowadays all that remains of
this time are poems and stories and old granite ruins made
stark by weather and time.
This 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 here. |
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Boats for deep sea angling and island trips are
available for hire at Cleggan.
The outstanding feature of the landscape around Cleggan is blanket bog. Ireland
and Connemara contain the last surviving blanket bogs in Europe. Few plant
species can live in the acid condition of the bog, but those that can form a
vegetation not found outside Ireland.
In 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 during the 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.
The outstanding feature of the landscape around Cleggan is blanket bog. Ireland
and Connemara contain the last surviving blanket bogs in Europe. Few plant
species can live in the acid condition of the bog, but those that can form a
vegetation not found outside Ireland. |
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