Overview
For over three decades Kiltane’s skyline carried Ireland’s first commercial wind farm, and in January 2026 the last of its turbines came down. That mix – pioneering and already past – sums up this corner of Erris, in the rugged north-west of County Mayo. The parish (Irish: Cill tSéadhna, ‘Seadhna’s Church’) stretches across townlands including Bellacorick, Doohoma and Gweesalia, almost all of it Atlantic blanket bog, with the Owenmore River threading through. Be clear about what it is: there’s no single attraction with a car park and a sign. The appeal is the emptiness, the birds and the sky.
History
The spiritual roots run deep. The dedication to Seadhna points to an early-Christian presence in Erris, linked to the family of Darbiled (Dervilla) and Fighernan, both noted preachers, though the exact site of the original church has long since faded into the bog. During the Penal era, Erris was consolidated into two large parishes, Kilcommon and Kilmore, each legally allowed only one priest. By 1704 Fr Michael Monnely served Kilcommon from Cloontikilla, relying on wandering friars and secret hedge schools, and as late as 1801 government records list just two priests for the area on a combined income of £90. As Belmullet grew through the 19th century, boundaries were redrawn, and the modern parish of Kiltane was formally established in August 1873, restoring the ancient name.
The Bellacorick wind farm
Bord na Móna opened the Bellacorick wind farm on 12 October 1992 – Ireland’s first commercial installation, with 21 turbines generating 6.5 megawatts, enough for roughly 4,500 homes. It was a genuine first for Irish renewable energy.
In January 2026 the final turbine was dismantled, well past its planned 25-year life, with components sent for specialist recycling rather than landfill. The site is now moving into Phase 3 of the adjacent Oweninny wind farm, whose far larger turbines will supply over 140,000 homes. For now you can still see the old access roads and infrastructure remnants, while the surrounding bog stays largely undisturbed.
Landscape and wildlife
The blanket bog here is a protected Atlantic-type peatland: it grows slowly across rolling ground, fed by constant rain and acidic conditions (pH 3.5–4.2), and supports cotton-grass, bog-bean, sundew and scarlet pimpernel. The open, treeless terrain makes it excellent for birds. Resident and wintering species include curlew, snipe, golden plover, lapwing and whooper swan, and spring and autumn occasionally turn up migrants like grey phalarope and booted warbler. The bog itself shifts with the weather – silver and shimmering after rain, hard and cracked in a dry spell.
What to see and do
- Blanket bog walks: unmarked but well-trodden tracks cross the peatland, for experienced walkers comfortable with soft, uneven ground. The area is a Special Area of Conservation, so stay on established paths to protect the flora.
- Birdwatching: the open bog and adjacent wetlands give unobstructed views of ground-nesting waders and raptors, best at early morning and late afternoon.
- The townlands: Kiltane has over 30 townlands, each with its own character. A drive along the minor roads linking Bellacorick, Doohoma and Gweesalia turns up stone cottages, small farms and ring-forts visible from the roadside.
- Energy and historical heritage: the original Cill tSéadhna is lost, but the parish cemetery and roadside markers carry generations of rural Mayo life, and the Bellacorick site is the obvious draw for anyone tracing Ireland’s shift from peat to wind.
Getting there and practical tips
Reach Kiltane via the N59 through Belmullet, turning inland towards Bellacorick. Public transport is extremely limited – a car is essential for getting through the parish and stopping at the lay-bys. Belmullet, about 22 km away, is the hub for fuel, groceries, accommodation and the North Mayo Heritage Centre.
Parking is free at roadside pull-ins and the former Bellacorick access point, and there are no visitor centres or paid attractions. The bog is open year-round, but after rain you’ll want waterproof boots, gaiters and a walking pole, and Atlantic weather changes fast – pack layers and check Met Éireann before heading out.
Nearby attractions
- Ballycroy National Park: south of Kiltane, protecting one of Ireland’s largest tracts of Atlantic blanket bog, with marked trails, a visitor centre and the slopes of Nephin.
- Bangor: an inland village on the Owenmore River known for salmon and sea trout angling, and the start of the demanding Bangor Trail through the Nephin Beg range.
- Belmullet: a Gaeltacht town with shops, cafés and a working harbour, the natural base for travel in Erris.