Overview
Bellacorick (Béal Átha Chomhraic, meaning “mouth of the confluence”) sits in the rolling peatlands of north Mayo, roughly halfway between Crossmolina and Bangor Erris. Though the townland itself covers just under 3 km², its surroundings tell a layered story of Irish engineering, energy transition, and ecological conservation. The area is best known for three distinct features: the 19th-century Musical Bridge, the skeletal remains of a mid-20th-century peat-fired power station, and Ireland’s first commercial wind farm. All three are set within the Bellacorick Bog Complex, a protected Special Area of Conservation.
The Musical Bridge
Built around 1820 by civil engineer William Bald, the bridge spans the Owenmore River with four elegant elliptical arches and a 120-metre stone parapet. Bald was mapping Erris and improving local roads at the time, and contemporary accounts called it the finest bridge in County Mayo. Its real claim to fame, however, is acoustic. Each coping stone is cut to a specific length, producing a distinct musical note.
To “play” the bridge, visitors typically use one of two methods:
- Rolling: Find a round, fist-sized stone and roll it along the top of the northern parapet as you walk or run alongside it.
- Tapping: Strike the coping slabs of the parapet in quick succession with a hand-held pebble, drawing your hand back immediately after each strike to let the note ring out. Each slab produces its own unique pitch on the scale.
An inscription on the bridge credits the Grand Jury and Right Hon. Denis Browne, Foreman, for commissioning the work. Local folklore adds a curious prophecy: the 17th-century Erris prophet Brian Rua Ó Cearbhain predicted that the bridge would never be finished and that if it were completed, the builder would die. Consequently, a piece of the stone parapet has been left missing or unfinished, leaving the structure technically incomplete to this day. The bridge remains a favourite stop for families and photographers, offering both a hands-on historical interaction and sweeping views across the river valley.
Industrial Heritage: From Peat to Wind
Just 200 metres from the bridge, the flat bogland once housed a major industrial operation. In 1949, James Kilroy TD campaigned for a local electricity source, leading to the construction of a turf-fired power station. Operational by 1962, the plant burned between 300,000 and 450,000 tonnes of peat annually, generating 170 million kWh and employing over a hundred local workers. Peat was harvested from surrounding bogs, dried, and transported to the station by diesel locomotives on narrow-gauge railway tracks. A 290-foot cooling tower dominated the Erris skyline until the plant closed in the early 2000s; the chimney was demolished in 2007 for safety reasons, though many locals noted its loss as a familiar landmark.
The site’s energy role didn’t end there. In 1992, the area became home to Ireland’s first commercial wind farm. Twenty-one turbines, with a combined capacity of 6.45 MW, now harness the steady south-westerly winds to supply electricity to roughly 4,500 homes. Owned and operated by Renewable Energy Ireland (with Bord na Móna as a major shareholder), the farm avoids the emission of approximately 20,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year. The transition from peat-burning to wind power makes Bellacorick a tangible case study in Ireland’s shifting energy landscape.
The Bellacorick Bog Loop Walk
The 13 km Bellacorick Bog Loop is the best way to experience the area’s natural and industrial heritage together. Marked with purple waymarkers, the trail starts at the former Bord na Móna entrance off the N59. The route follows disused bog railway tracks and flat, grassy paths, taking most walkers around 3 to 3.5 hours. While the opening kilometre passes alongside modern infrastructure, the inner loop quickly opens into expansive, open bogland. On clear days, the view stretches to Nephin, Nephin Beg, Slieve Carr, Benmore, and Slieve Feeagh. The trail runs parallel to the Oweninny River for sections and passes close to the wind turbines, offering striking photographic opportunities.
Nature & Conservation
The surrounding landscape is protected as the Bellacorick Bog Complex SAC (site code 001922). The area preserves active blanket bog, alkaline fens, dystrophic lakes, and northern Atlantic wet heaths. May and June bring a dense carpet of wildflowers, including bog cotton, sundew, butterwort, eyebright, tormentil, and yellow iris. The habitat supports several protected species, most notably the rare Geyer’s Whorl Snail (Vertigo geyeri) and Marsh Saxifrage (Saxifraga hirculus). Birdwatchers frequently spot skylarks, meadow pipits, sand martins, and kestrels, while the fens and open water attract waders and occasional passerines. The flat terrain and lack of steep ascents make the loop accessible to most walkers, though the ground can be soft after rain.
Getting There & Practical Tips
- Driving: Turn off the N59 at the former Bord na Móna gate. A small, free car park with limited spaces serves the trailhead and bridge. Arrive early in summer to secure a spot.
- Public Transport: Bus Éireann route 446 runs daily between Crossmolina and Ballina, continuing to Bangor Erris and Belmullet. There is one service each way daily, with an extra Friday evening journey from Ballina.
- Facilities: There are no cafés, shops, or toilets on site. Picnic benches are located near the bridge and at the loop’s midpoint. Bring your own water and snacks.
- Footwear & Weather: The trail is flat but crosses bog tracks that become muddy and waterlogged in wet weather. Waterproof hiking shoes are essential. The exposed terrain is often windy, so layering is recommended.
- Best Time to Visit: Late spring and early summer offer peak wildflower displays and longer daylight hours. Autumn provides dramatic, low light over the bog and turbines, ideal for photography.
Visiting Bellacorick requires a bit of forward planning due to the lack of on-site amenities, but the combination of playable engineering, industrial history, and protected wetland ecology makes it a standout stop on a north Mayo itinerary. Keep a small stone in your pocket for the bridge, check the Bus Éireann 446 timetable if travelling without a car, and allow at least half a day to complete the loop and explore the ruins at a relaxed pace.