Overview
Most people cross the Curraun (or Corraun) Peninsula without stopping, on the drive to Achill Island – which is a pity, because it is almost an island in its own right. A land bridge just 800 metres wide ties it to the mainland at one end, and only a 150-metre channel separates it from Achill at the other, so the Atlantic wraps around 99% of its edge. The whole headland is in the Gaeltacht: 12% of residents speak Irish daily outside the school system, and the villages of Tornragee, Polranny, Belfarsad, Curraun (Currane) and Dogh Beg carry Irish names that reward slowing down to read. The population was 726 at the last count.
For more on the surrounding area, see Achill Sound and Corraun Peninsula.
History & Heritage
The peninsula’s bones are among the oldest in the country. The basement rocks – schist, gneiss and quartzite – formed over 600 million years ago in the pre-Cambrian, long before most of Ireland existed. On top of that sit the human traces: a copper mine was once worked in the village of Curraun, and a Wild Atlantic Way discovery point on the headland marks the loss of one of the ships of the 1588 Spanish Armada off this coast.
Two odder threads run through the local story. Sir Robert Peel – the man who founded the modern British police force, which is why officers were long called ‘peelers’ and ‘bobbies’ – is said to have lived for a time at Curraun. And Curraun House, known locally as ‘the George’, was the home of the landlord Dickens and once held a 19th-century tropical garden, an unlikely thing on this exposed Atlantic shore; the building is now a pub. James Lynchehaun, whose story fed into J. M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World, was born at Polranny on the peninsula, though the 1894 attack that made his name happened at Valley House over on Achill.
Walking & Cycling
The peninsula runs from a flat, easy rail-trail on its north shore to a proper mountain in its middle.
The Great Western Greenway
Running along the northern edge of the peninsula, the Great Western Greenway is a 41-kilometre traffic-free route built on a former railway line. It’s flat, well-surfaced and suits families and casual cyclists, with views across Clew Bay and the islands scattered over it and frequent access to villages and cafés. If you only do one thing here on wheels, do this – it’s the reason most cyclists come.
The R319 and Corraun Hill
The R319 loops around the peninsula from the Michael Davitt Bridge at Achill Sound, running low along the coast through Polranny before rejoining the N59 near Mulranny. It’s a scenic drive or a fair road-bike route, though you should allow for headwinds and a few narrow stretches.
The real effort is Corraun Hill (524 m), which dominates the peninsula. From the top the view opens across Clew Bay to Croagh Patrick and out to the Mullet Peninsula. The marked ground crosses blanket bog and a chain of small loughs, and the full ascent takes four to five hours, so sturdy boots and a reliable map are essential – the upland is unfenced and there is nothing to shelter behind if the weather turns.
Highlights
- Mulranny – At the neck of the peninsula, Mulranny is the practical hub: guesthouses, restaurants, the start of the Greenway and the Blue Flag Mulranny Strand, a sheltered bay for a safer swim than the open Atlantic allows.
- Fr Griffin Park – The community sports field at Curraun has one of the finest sporting backdrops in the country, looking out over Croagh Patrick, Achillbeg and Clare Island. It hosts rugby, Gaelic football and soccer, so time a walk past it around a fixture and you can watch a match with that view behind the goals.
- Sea angling – The Atlantic around Curraun and Achill holds a wide range of fish and is rated one of the best sea-angling grounds in Ireland, which is the main reason boats work out of these waters.
Beyond the fishing, the coastal grasslands and cliffs support chough, golden plover and peregrine falcon, and the inland loughs hold brown trout.
Practical Information
- Getting There – Drive to Achill Sound via the N59 and cross the Michael Davitt Bridge. The R319 loops around the peninsula, connecting back to the N59 at the southern end.
- Public Transport – Bus line 450 runs from Westport onto the Curraun Peninsula. From the stops, local taxis or bike hire can take you further round the R319.
- Parking & Facilities – Free roadside parking is available at most lay-bys along the R319 and at the Greenway trailhead near Mulranny. Public toilets are located in Mulranny village and at the Greenway start point. Refreshments and accommodation are concentrated in Mulranny and the surrounding Gaeltacht villages.
- Dog-Friendly Access – Dogs are welcome on the Greenway and most walking routes. Keep them on a lead in boggy sections and around livestock, and always clear up after them.
- Safety – Weather on the west coast can shift rapidly. The upland trails are unfenced and cross wet peat, so carry a waterproof jacket, wear grippy footwear and check conditions before heading out. Tell someone your planned route, especially if tackling Curraun Hill.
Best Time to Visit
Summer gives the calmest seas for a swim off Mulranny Strand. Autumn brings low light and fewer cars on the road to Achill, which suits both photography and the Greenway. Winter is for experienced walkers only: the swells are dramatic, the cliffs go into mist, and the daylight is short.
Most people base themselves in Mulranny or over on Achill and treat the peninsula as a half-day: the Greenway on the flat, and Corraun Hill if the legs and the cloud allow. If you do just one, cycle the Greenway – but check the wind first, because a headwind out and back turns an easy spin into a hard one.