This is my very first time posting on Travelfeed.io so forgive me if it doesn't look amazing like I've seen other posts.
Even though we've only been in Mexico a little more than 6 months, it feels like a life time ago since we lived in Ireland. Strange how these things can go.
In the 10 years in Ireland, I must have taken a few thousands of pictures. We mainly stayed in the West of Ireland, and didn't travel much. Something I wish we would have been able to do more of. But even though we hardly ever left the West, it sure made for a lot of great photos of the dramatic scenery that is the Wild Atlantic Way.
The Wild Atlantic Way is a touristic driving route that stretches from the furthest tip up in the north of the Republic of Ireland, Inishowen, Co. Donegal, all the way to the tip of the country in County Cork. The counties included in the Wild Atlantic Way in the West of Ireland are Donegal, a tiny bit of County Leitrim (this county doesn't have much of a coastline but is beautiful nevertheless), County Sligo, County Mayo where we lived, Co. Galway, Co. Limerick, Co. Clare, Co. Kerry, and last but not least: Co. Cork. In total, the route is 2,500 km (1600 miles) long.source
Ireland, and in particular the West, has many amazing sceneries, and there are many counties and places that are absolutely stunning. However, the Mayo coastline is one of the most beautiful places in Ireland, if not in the world. Some of the smaller towns would make you think you landed in the year 1800, with its tiny white cottages, and hardly any traffic.
There are many little side roads to explore, and this is what we often did if we were somewhere unfamiliar. Ireland might be small but there are several areas where one could get lost, and never be found. You'd be lucky if your GPS still works there!
One of our favorite places to go, to spend a few hours at the beach, was Ross Beach in Killala. Only about a 15 minute drive from where we lived, it already offered a dramatic change in the scenery. Where our area was relatively quiet and calm, if you visit the beach near Killala, it's a whole different story.
When 
We loved walking across the beach, all the way to the edge where the ocean meets the land. There are hardly any warning signs to tell you about the tide that comes in rather quickly sometimes. Once I was there with two of my children, and we had to run to make it back in time as the tide was coming in so quickly! We ran across the beach, sticking to the side of the dunes, so we could have climbed up there just in case but it was a bit scary nevertheless!
If you drive to the other side of the bay, an even more spectacular scenery meets you. Here the waves crash into the coastline with amazing strength. It's not a beach where you should take your little ones for a swim.
But for the view, it's absolutely a must!
All photos are my own.
