The capital of the barony of Erris, Belmullet is an idyllic town in northwest County Mayo. Belmullet is one of the most westerly points in Ireland, with many of the locals saying that the next parish over is New York!
Belmullet or Béal an Mhuirthead is located in the heart of the Erris Gaeltacht (An area where the Irish language is widely spoken) and it’s place name translates as ‘mouth of the Mullet’, which makes Belmullet the ideal base for exploring the Mullet Peninsula and the wider barony of Erris.
Getting to Belmullet
The most direct route from Ballina to Belmullet is via Crossmolina and Bellacorick, along the N59. This route will take you approximately 54 minutes.
For a more scenic route we encourage visitors to take the R314 west from Ballina. This route is 13 minutes longer but travellers will be treated to the breathtaking vistas of the Céide Coast.
Alchemy Tours – Belmullet Walking Tours
Belmullet is steeped in history and there are a plethora of gems to discover when you visit. On your two hour tour you’ll hear about how Jack B. Yeats and John Millington Synge (the playwright wrote ‘The Playboy of the Western World’ after his visit to Belmullet and Geesala in Erris) were inspired by their visits to the barony.
You may book your Belmullet Walking Tour here.
Áras Inis Gluaire – The Bilingual Arts Centre
Ireland’s only bilingual arts centre is located in the environs of Belmullet Civic Centre. Áras Inis Gluaire is a purpose built, state-of-the-art arts space comprising of a 170-seat auditorium, an exhibition space, a recording studio, a local radio facility (Erris FM), a reception space and a café area.
Áras Inis Gluaire run workshops, school/community residencies and cinema clubs. Educational programmes including creative writing, visual art, photography and trad music.
Take a dip in Belmullet Tidal Pool
Outdoor pools are rare in Ireland – and tidal pools are rarer still. Belmullet Tidal Pool, built in the 1980s is located on Shore Road, in the waters of Blacksod Bay, a short walk from the town centre.
The pool is about 20 metres long with shallow and deep ends. Access is by ladders at either end. It has a toddler’s section and a deeper section for experienced swimmers.
In the months of July and August, there is a lifeguard patrol here. During this time, there are swimming and safety lessons for children.
Blue Flag Elly Bay Beach
Elly Beach on the Mullet Peninsula is a beautiful sandy beach, roughly 9km south of Belmullet town. It’s a sheltered beach, known for watersports such as swimming, sailing, surfing, but is also good for swimming.
Elly Bay is also a beach of international ecological importance, because of its diverse habitats to be and boasts a wealth of bird life. Elly Bay is another of Mayo’s Blue Flag Beaches.
The Mullet Peninsula
Belmullet is the gateway to the Mullet Peninsula. The Mullet Peninsula is surrounded by Broadhaven Bay and Blacksod Bay to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. With it’s rugged landscape is it any surprise that Erris was voted the ‘Best Place to Go Wild in Ireland’?
The Mullet Peninsula is home to the village of Blacksod located in the southern end of the peninsula. The world famous Blacksod Lighthouse, which played a key role in the D-Day Landings (June 1944), will open to the public later in 2021.
Go island hopping off the Mullet Peninsula
Visit the idyllic islands of Iniskea North and South and Inis Gluaire off the Erris Peninsula.
There are a number of options based out of Blacksod on the Mullet Peninsula, County Mayo offering boat trips to the beautiful deserted Inishkea Islands off the peninsula and sea angling trips. Please visit either Belmullet Boat Charters, Blacksod Sea Safari or Geraghty Charters to take a trip to this stunning part of North Mayo.
Visit Belmullet
Visitbelmullet.ie is an online platform for the promotion of Belmullet and Mullet Peninsula. Check out their promotional video here.
