Downpatrick Head
Attraction County Mayo, Éire / Ireland
About Downpatrick Head
Downpatrick Head is a grassy headland on the north Mayo coast, sitting about 40 metres above the Atlantic, roughly 5km north of Ballycastle. The undisputed focal point is Dún Briste — Irish for 'broken fort' — a sea stack that separated from the mainland around 1393 during a powerful storm. It now stands isolated just offshore, its flat top unreachable, and watching the ocean hammer its base from the cliff edge puts the scale of the place into perspective. The headland carries real layers of history: St. Patrick is traditionally said to have founded a church here, and the ruins of that church, a holy well, and a stone cross are still on site. A small stone WWII lookout post stands nearby, with 'ÉIRE 64' spelled out in stone on the ground — a signal to aircraft that they were over neutral Irish territory. There's also a sizeable blowhole called Poll na Seantainne. Summer gives the calmest conditions, but the site has a particular atmosphere on stormy days too. No barriers along the cliff edges, so worth bearing in mind.
Location & details
- Category
- Attraction
- Region
- County Mayo, Éire / Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.32361, -9.34389
Nearby hidden gems
Looking for more? Explore all tourist attractions in County Mayo.
Added by Alex on PinIt.