Two world firsts happened on this one soggy stretch of Connemara peat, twelve years apart. In 1907 Guglielmo Marconi sent the first commercial transatlantic wireless telegrams from a station on Derrigimlagh Bog; in June 1919 John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown ended the first non-stop transatlantic flight by burying the nose of their Vickers Vimy in it. A stone cairn marks the landing spot and a signposted loop walk threads past the ruins of Marconi’s station. If you only have twenty minutes, the cairn and tail-fin monument are a short level walk from the car park. If you have the legs, do the full loop – that is where the interest is.
The flight
Alcock and Brown took off from St John’s, Newfoundland, on 14 June 1919, chasing the Daily Mail’s £10,000 prize for the first non-stop crossing in under 72 hours. Their aircraft, a modified First World War Vickers Vimy, was stripped of bomb racks and fitted with extra fuel tanks, a sextant and two Rolls-Royce Eagle engines. Radio contact failed early on, and crossing the North Atlantic they battled thick fog, snow and severe icing. At one point the plane spun close to the ocean surface, and Brown climbed out onto the wing to scrape ice from the instruments by hand.
The crossing took just under sixteen hours. They sighted the Connemara coast on the morning of 15 June, low on fuel and with no airfield in sight. Alcock put down on what looked like a flat green field – actually the soft peat of Derrigimlagh Bog. The wheels sank, the aircraft tipped nose-first, and both men climbed out unharmed. The flight earned them the Daily Mail prize and knighthoods from King George V.
Marconi’s wireless station
The bog’s connection to global communications predates the flight. In 1905 Marconi chose Derrigimlagh for a wireless station, drawn by the flat terrain, the closeness to the Atlantic and the peat to fuel it. By 1907 the complex covered roughly 300 acres and ran like a small industrial village, transmitting the first commercial transatlantic telegrams to Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. Jack Phillips – the senior wireless operator who went down with the Titanic – is said to have trained here early in his career. Technological advances and damage during the Irish Civil War in 1922 closed the station, but the foundations and interpretive markers remain, and the loop walk still traces the footprint of the condenser house and power station.
What to see
- The landing cairn – Unveiled in 1969 for the flight’s 50th anniversary, this white stone marker sits at the spot where the Vimy’s nose buried itself in the peat. Panels nearby detail the aircraft and the crossing.
- The Errislannan tail-fin – A limestone sculpture shaped like an aircraft tail fin stands on a nearby hill, with a bronze plaque recounting the flight and clear views across the bog and the Atlantic.
- The Marconi Loop walk – A circular trail of about 5 km (Sport Ireland measures it at 4.5 km), taking roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. Gravel paths and wooden boardwalks keep you mostly dry, and seven interpretive stops explain the wireless station and the landing. The boardwalks and uneven ground make it unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
- The Clifden statue – Not at the bog, but a bronze of Alcock and Brown stands in Clifden’s main square: a replica of the 1954 limestone monument that once stood at Heathrow, cast by Bronze Art Ireland and unveiled in February 2020 for the flight’s centenary.
Visitor Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Open daily, all year |
| Admission | Free |
| Parking | Free car park at Errislannan (signposted “Alcock & Brown Landing Site”). Large but exposed – it catches the wind off the bog |
| Public transport | Citylink buses run between Galway city and Clifden; from the Clifden bus stop a short taxi ride or a 20-minute walk brings you to the site |
| Accessibility | Cairn and tail-fin monument reachable via short, level paths. The Marconi Loop includes boardwalks and uneven ground, so it is not suitable for wheelchair users. |
| Dog policy | Dogs are welcome on the Marconi Loop but must be kept on a lead |
| Facilities | No toilets at the car park, so plan ahead – the nearest cafés and toilets are in Clifden town centre. |
| Best time to visit | Late spring to early autumn provides the most reliable weather and the longest daylight for the loop walk. Autumn colours add extra visual interest. |
| Safety tips | The bog can be wet underfoot; wear sturdy shoes and bring a waterproof jacket. Keep to the marked board-walks, especially after rain. |
Nearby
The site sits within a short drive of the best of Connemara:
- Connemara National Park – home to the Twelve Bens and Diamond Hill.
- Kylemore Abbey – a neo-Gothic estate with Victorian walled gardens.
- Sky Road – a 16 km scenic loop offering dramatic coastal vistas.
- Clifden Castle ruins – visible from the Sky Road drive.
- Benbaun – the highest peak of the Twelve Bens (Benbaun).
Together they make a full-day loop along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Getting there
From Clifden, follow the R341 south for about 2 km; signs for the “Alcock & Brown Landing Site” appear near the Errislannan car park. From Galway city, take the N59 to Clifden (about 1 hour 20 minutes) and follow the local signs. The route is signposted for cyclists too, and shops in Clifden hire bikes if you want to pedal the loop. Pack a rain jacket regardless of the forecast, and allow two hours for the walk and the panels.