Lacken

Lacken is located along the beautiful Atlantic coastline of North Mayo, approx 14 miles from Ballina and approx 7 miles from each of the small rural towns of Ballycastle and Killala.

With miles of beautiful rugged coastline and some of the best unspoilt beaches, Lacken is an excellent destination for swimming, surfing, water-skiing or just relaxing from the hustle and bustle of life. Other attractions and activities in Lacken include pier, boat and cliff fishing, bird watching and cliff and shore walking. Stroll along Lacken strand and watch the turbulent Atlantic Ocean as it battles with the shore, or listen to the gentle lapping waves on a summer evening ... an absolute haven for anyone with a passion for painting, sketching or photography.

Lacken is divided in two by a 600 acre strand and a 500 acre marshland. It has two small harbours, one at Rathlacken in Lacken Bay and the second at Kilcummin in Killala Bay. Kilcummin Bay has become increasingly popular in recent years with water sports enthusiasts visiting the area for surfing and kayaking.

The countryside around Lacken is steeped in heritage with many monastic ruins to explore, rich in archaelogy with the Céide Fields at nearby Ballycastle and abundant in flora, fauna and many species of wildlife.

Scenery

The scenic beauty around Lacken is quite unsurpassed, with its miles of golden beaches and the many hills along the west and north-west horizon, from where one can savour magnificent views of the surrounding landscapes. One of the best viewpoints in Lacken is the hill behind the ruin of Castlelacken. A peculiar structure of rough stones known as the 'Gazebo' tops this hill, standing sentry over the bay, overlooking sea and land for many miles. From here on a clear day the mountains of Killybegs in Donegal are visible to the east, while Sligo's Ben Bulben and Knocknarea can also be seen.

Downpatrick Head

Downpatrick Head is a must visit to see Dun Briste sea-stack. To see photos, visit the Downpatrick Head album we have as part of our Facebook page for County Mayo.

Scuba Diving

Unpolluted waters, excellent visibility and abundant sea life all contribute to make this area of North Mayo an attractive location for diving enthusiasts. The coastline from Lacken to Ballycastle provides a range of spectacular dives and has become very popular for scuba diving in recent years.

1798

Lacken is documented in the annals of Irish history due to the fact that the French army, under General Humbert, landed at Kilcummin Strand in 1798. On the afternoon of August 22nd, 1798, the first contingent of 200 French came ashore, at a spot called Leac A’Chaonaigh (The Flagstone of the Green Moss), at Kilcummin Strand. The remainder disembarked close to the present pier, at a spot known as Leac A’Bhaid (The Flagstone of the Boats). From here began General Humbert's march to Ballina.

St Patrick's Statue and Well

Lacken parish is reputed to have strong links with St Patrick. St Patrick's Well, in Foghill, has been a place of pilgrimage for generations, with people coming from miles away to do the stations there. Traditionally pilgrims circle around three mounds of earth while reciting prayers and the station ends by drinking water from the well. A statue of St Patrick was erected in 1936, with the inscription "Erected by the people of Lacken parish, in honour of St Patrick, 1936 Micheal F. Quinn PP".

Tír Sáile

Tír Sáile is a sculpture trail marking Mayo 5000. There are three sculptures in Kilcummin, one at Kilcummin pier, one at Bár Na Binne and one at the road to the strand.