Dooega Beach
Dooega Head
Welcome to Dooega, one of Mayo’s Blue Flag Beaches. This beach is located at the south west tip of the Minnaun Cliffs, approx 8 km from Achill Sound.
Bird LifeAreas of Scientific Interest
Local History
Further Information
Bird Life
Some of the more common birds that can be seen at the beach include:
- Cormorants (Broigheall)
- Shags (Seaga)
Waders:
- Snipe (Naoscach)
- Lapwing (Pilibin)
- Oysercatcher (Roilleach)
Terns:
- Common Tern (Geabhrog)
- Arctic Tern (Geabhrog Artach)
- Sandwich Tern (Geabhrog dhuscothach)
Gulls:
- Common Gull (Faoilean Ban)
- Kittiwake (Saidhbhear)
- Blackheaded Gull (Faoilean ceanndubh)
- Great Black-backed Gull (Droimneach mor)
- Lesser Black-backed Gull (Droimneach beag)
- Herring Gull (Faoilean scadan)
Areas of Scientific Interest
Dooega Beach
Dooega beach is a small coastal inlet situated on the south western limb of Achill Island. The island is built almost entirely on highly folded and faulted Dalradian quartzites and schists. The underlying geology of Dooega village comprises of a dipping layer of Dalradian schists whilst Dooega Head lying to the east of the village is built of Quartzite. Where geochemical activity has affected the mineral content of the rocks during metamorphism small pockets of amethysts have been formed near the junction of the quartzites.
Dooega valley sheltered by the NE-SW sloping Mweelin ridge in the west holds extensive level land for farming and settlement in comparison to the opposite shore of this southern limb where ht e coastal lowland is narrow and constricted between the hills and rocky headlands. The Dooega river runs out in the Camport Bay but the coast is rocky and the beaches are small.
Keel/Machair
Menaun Cliffs-Sac Site
Dooega beach lies within this designated S.A.C. site. This site extends between the villages of Keel and Dooega. The northern part of the site consists of a low-lying flat coastal grassland of machair, which is backed by Keel Lough. Southeast of the machair the ground rises steeply to 466m, and shoreline changes from a flat, sandy beach to impressive sea-cliffs. The site also extends inland past Menaun Heights (403). The slopes of Menaun are covered by thin peat eroded in laces down to mineral soil and rock. Extensive areas of heath and some blanket bog occur here. The heath vegetation of Menaun is unusual for its community of mosses and liverworts known as The Northern Atlantic Hepatic Mat community which contains a number of species with oceanic/montane affinities. On Achill this community descends to its lowest altitudinal level in Ireland. On the sea cliffs around Menaun, the damp rocks also support rich communities of mosses and liverworts, including Cyclodictyon laetevirends and Philonotis rigida.
Plant Life
Red Fescue, Daisy, Ribwort Plantain, buck’s-horn Plantain, Common Bird’s foot Trefoil, Lady’s Bedstraw and Common Mouse-ear, mats of mosses and liverworts, from which a number of rare and scarce species have been recorded, including Bryum calophllum, B.Marratti, Catascopium nigritum, Tortella inclinata, Fossombronia fimbriata, F.pusilla and F.incurva.
Dooega Head
Dooega Head lies with a Special Area of Conservation which extends between the villages of Keel and Dooega. The northern part of this area consists of a low-lying flat coastal grassland of machair, backed by Keel Lough. Southeast of the machair the ground rises steeply to 466m, and the shoreline changes from a flat, sandy beach to impressive sea-cliffs. The site also extends inland past the Menaun Heights (403m).
Keel Lough
Behind the area of machair lies Keel Lough which provides habitat for wintering waterfowl and is of national importance for the Whopper Swan. The ornithological importance of Keel Lough enhances the conservation value of this site.Local History
Carrickkildavnet Castle
Carrickkildavnet Castle lies on the east coast of Achill island approximately four miles south of Achill Sough village. This 15 century castle built by the O’Malleys in 1470 was used as a stronghold by Grace O’Malley in the sixteenth century. The top is battlemented in the manner characteristic of the period and has overhanging turrets with provision for dropping missiles on to attacking forces. The castle is the only monument on the island under state care. There are the remains of an old boat-slip outside the castle, as well as traces of the original bawn. The castle, which is the only monument on the island under state care.Kildavnet Church
Kildavnet Church ruins are approximately a mile north of the castle and dates back to the twelfth century. Though the original structure was subsequently renovated and served as a Catholic chapel in the early nineteenth century, one ancient feature, a narrow slit in the West Window remains in situ. To the North side of the church in the adjoining cemetery are buried the victims of the Clew Bay drowning tragedy of 1894.
Further Information:
If you would like to research further information, for example, on tourist attractions or activities within this area, find some useful links below:
www.met.ie (For up to date weather forecast)
Westport Civic Office
Mayo County Council
Altamont Street
Westport
Co. Mayo
Phone: 098 50400
Email: westport@mayococo.ie
9:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Mayo Beaches
Westport Civic Offices
Altamont Street
Westport
Co. Mayo
Phone: (098) 50400
Email: westportao@mayococo.ie
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.