Blacksod Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blacksod Bay |
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Bay from the Mullet Peninsula
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 Location in island of Ireland
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| Location | County Mayo, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°07′N 10°02′W / 54.12°N 10.03°W |
| Native name | Cuan an Fhóid Duibh Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Ocean/sea sources | Atlantic Ocean |
| Max. length | 16 kilometres (10 mi) |
| Max. width | 8 km (5 mi) |
| Official name: Blacksod Bay and Broadhaven | |
| Designated: | 7 June 1996 |
| Reference #: | 844 |
Blacksod Bay (which is Cuan an Fhóid Duibh in Irish) is a large bay on the Atlantic Ocean. You can find it in Erris, which is in North County Mayo, Ireland. This bay is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) long and 8 kilometers (5 miles) wide. The Mullet Peninsula forms its western side. On its eastern side, you'll find the area of Kiltane Parish. This area stretches from Belmullet south towards Gweesalia and Doohoma.
Contents
Exploring Blacksod Bay's Geography
Blacksod Bay is home to many small islands. It opens up directly into the vast Atlantic Ocean. The land around the bay is made up of very old rocks. These include granite, gneiss, and schist. The Mullet peninsula is mostly flat and covered with sand dunes. The bay's entrance is wide, making it a safe spot for ships to drop anchor. This means boats can stop and stay safely in one place.
At its northern end, Blacksod Bay connects to Broadhaven Bay. An old canal built in the 1700s links the two bays through the town of Belmullet.
Important Lighthouses of the Bay
Blacksod Lighthouse
Blacksod Lighthouse was finished in 1862. It stands about 18 kilometers (11 miles) offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse was built using granite stones cut from a nearby quarry at Termon Hill.
This lighthouse is famous for a very important reason. During World War II, in 1944, the Allies needed a weather forecast for D-Day. D-Day was the day when Allied forces landed in Normandy, France. The weather forecast from Blacksod Lighthouse helped decide when to launch this huge operation. Because of a bad weather forecast, the landing was delayed by one day.
Eagle Island Lighthouse
Another important light is the Eagle Island lighthouse. It is located off the northwest tip of the Mullet Peninsula.
Getting Around Blacksod Bay
You can travel around the Blacksod Bay area using Bus Éireann route 446. This bus connects the area to towns like Belmullet, Bangor Erris, Bellacorick, Crossmolina, and Ballina. There is one bus service each day in both directions, even on Sundays. On Friday evenings, an extra bus runs from Ballina. In Ballina, you can find other bus and train connections to travel further.
Fun Things to Do in Blacksod Bay
Boat Trips and Islands
During the summer, you can take boat trips from Blacksod. These trips go to several interesting islands off the North Mayo coastline.
- Inishkea Islands: These islands are known for their history and wildlife.
- Inishglora: This island is special because it's said to be where the Children of Lir are buried. The Children of Lir is a famous Irish legend.
- Duvillaun: Another island worth exploring.
Watersports at Elly Bay
Elly Bay is a very popular place for many watersports. It is also home to the Colaiste Uisce Adventure Centre. This center teaches watersports and other fun activities. They teach everything through the Irish language. This helps schoolchildren and adventure groups from all over Ireland learn Irish while having fun.
Images for kids
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A sailboat at Elly Bay, Erris, County Mayo
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Blacksod Bay with Achill Island to the south
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Kite boarding at Claggan beach, part of Blacksod Bay
