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Moyleb33
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CO MAYO - TRANSPORT
Depending on where you’re travelling from, flying to Ireland is your best bet. There are daily services from Dublin and the UK to Knock or Galway. BMI fly from Manchester & Birmingham or RYANAIR fly from Luton, Stansted, Bristol & East Midlands. There is also a service from London City airport that is more expensive but possibly worth looking in to.
Once there the easiest thing to do is hire a car, however for those looking for a bit of adventure there is a good bus service to get you around. I had great fun on Bus Eirann. They travel to Knock daily from Derry, Sligo, Cork, Galway, Dublin and Westport.
Finally I didn’t manage to squeeze in a rail trip myself, but numerous friends have recommended it. Special day return fares are available from Dublin to Knock and various other routes in County Mayo. Check out www.irishrail.ie
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Moyleb33
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CO MAYO – BALLINTUBBER ABBEY
Dating back to the 13th century Ballintubber Abbey is a great little place to stop off on a trip to Knock Shrine or Ashford Castle. I managed to fluke a beautiful sunny day in September (unheard of) and thoroughly enjoyed this quaint photo opportunity. The main attraction is the building itselfwhich is shrouded in legend and royal folklore but personally I found it’s next door neighbour to be of a bit more interest. Nestled in the shadows of the Abbey you can find a little gem of a museum. The Celtic Furrow Visitor Centre traces the cultural, historical and spiritual roots in Ireland over 5,000 years. Covering persecution, invasion and famine, it may not sound like the most uplifting tourist experience, but for first timers to Ireland the nostalgic look at tradition and customs is certainly worth a look.
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Moyleb33
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CO MAYO – AIRPORTS
If you are just going over to see the Shrine, then a return flight into WEST IRELAND KNOCK airport is your best bet (see separate transport review). If you’re planning to hire a car though it is possible to fly into Knock and out of Galway, allowing you to visit both the Shrine and the Abbey in one weekend. Galway airport is actually nearer to Ashford Castle than Knock, so you can spend a few nights in Ashford Castle then head to Galway before dropping off the car (N.B you will pay more to leave a hire car in a different airport to the one you collected it from). Having said that, Galway is quite probably my favourite Irish city as well as being the country’s ‘Cultural Capital’ so make sure you don’t rush it. I’d recommend you only go there when you can give Galway the dedicated time it deserves.
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Moyleb33
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CO MAYO – ASHFORD CASTLE (HOTEL)
If you want to make the most of a trip to the region, I’d recommend you check out the Shrine (see Knock Shrine Review)before heading into the countryside. Being a mere hour from Galway, Westport and Sligo, the inquisitive traveller is spoilt for choice. On a weekenders timescale don’t fall into the trap of wanting to see it all and spending the whole time in the car. Although traffic jams are about as common as apparitions, the roads aren’t always fantastic, throw in the odd tractor or sheep crossing and whizzing around the countryside might not seem such a good use of your time.
After 45 minutes of wonderfully craggy countryside, I decided to spend the weekend at the delightful Ashford Castle. Cushioned by 350 acres of wooded park and situated proudly on the banks of the Corrib river, the 13th Century castle is a luxury stay for most wallets. The stunning Elizabethan estate comes complete with a spa, falconry school, golf course and archery range, not to mention wild trout and salmon practically queuing up for passing fisherman. And if that all sounds a bit too Centreparcs, fear not, it is all cleverly hidden away and if you forgot to pack your trainers, there’s always the bar with its impressive 25-page wine list. With off season rooms starting from 140 Euros pppn, it’s certainly not for the budget traveller, but Ashford Castle is less a hotel and more an experience, and who can put a price on that.
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