County Mayo, a transitional area

As you cross the border into County Mayo, the landscape changes markedly along Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord, which cuts into the coast for fifteen kilometres. In this transitional area, the historical link between sheep farming and manufacturing is highlighted by the Leenane Sheep and Wool Centre, where the ‘woolcraft experience tour’ demonstrates the traditional processes of carding, spinning and natural dyeing of wool from local sheep breeds. Heading further north, you reach Achill Island, the largest of the Irish islands, now linked to the mainland by the Michael Davitt swing bridge. Tucked away at its western tip lies Keem Bay, a crescent of pale sand sheltered by high cliffs and lapped by turquoise waters. This secluded spot has recently entered the collective imagination as the location for the film *The Banshees of Inisherin* (The Banshees of Inisherin). Walking along the shoreline or following the paths that climb up to the Benmore cliffs allows you to rediscover that suspended, silent atmosphere that characterises the film. The journey then naturally concludes in Westport, an elegant example of Georgian town planning, where the colourful façades of the buildings are symmetrically reflected along the channels of the River Carrowbeg, offering a farewell marked by leisurely stops in historic pubs and quiet nights in the small boutique B&B&Bs in the town centre.