About Clew Bay - Westport Cruises | Explore Clew Bay | Seal Watching

Clew Bay, sheltered bay on the west (Atlantic) coast of County Mayo, Ireland, approximately 10 miles (16km) from East to West and 7 miles (11 km) from North to South. The bay is bounded by mountains—Croagh Patrick (2,510 ft. / 795m) on the South and the Nephin Beg Range on the North.

It's located within a drumlin landscape, formed from glacial sediment deposited at the end of the last Ice Age.

The bay has 365 islands, one for every day of the year; 117 of them are Ireland's best example of drumlins of limestone, which come up in all shapes: ovals, lozenges, snakes, dragons, arrowheads or long-legged beasties. Clare Island, the biggest island, guards the entrance of the bay.

The most famous of Clew Bay's Islands must be John Lennon's Island ( Dorinish ). Lennon bought the island for £1,700 , and planned to spend his retirement there. Spanning 19 acres, Lennon received planning permission to build a house on the island, but never did.
Sid Rawle, also known as ‘King of the Hippies’ and 30 others lived on the island until 1972 when a dropped oil lamp destroyed their tents.

Inishgort Island sits at the mouth of Westport Bay with its lighthouse a warning to ships to avoid this rocky shore. The tower upon which the light is mounted was originally built in 1806.

Clew Bay was the focus of the O’Malley family possession in the Middle Ages. On the bay’s shore Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen, had her principal stronghold: Rockfleet Castle. Her fleet of ships sailed across the bay displaying the flag with the Motto of the O’Malley Clan: “Terra Marique Putens”, “ Valiant by sea and land".