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Co Mayo
- Places of Interest
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Downpatrick Head
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Ballina, Co. Mayo
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At Downpatrick Head the Atlantic has gouged a huge bay from the mighty
cliffs, their summits scoured of all vegetation
except grass by the ceaseless ocean winds. The air
is full of wheeling birds: terns, gulls, skuas, razorbills and the rather less
active puffins. Look out for the puffing holes that spew out tall columns of sea
spray when the weather is rough.
The most spectacular of these is called Poulnachantinny. It was created,
apparently, when St Patrick was fighting with the
Devil. The saint landed such a fearsome blow with his crozier that Old Nick was driven
clear through the rock and into the sea beneath.
In the course of this mighty scrap they also detached part of the headland. Now known
as Doonbristy, this lone stack of rock is crowned by an old ruined fort. On the Head itself,
a plaque commemorates those who lost their lives in the aftermath of the 1798 rebellion.
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