The Wild Atlantic Way, Things to do in Ireland

The Wild Atlantic Way

Breathtaking Landscapes with Enchanting Legends

I’ve always been fascinated by Irish legends. It was number one on my bucket list to explore Ireland and get lost in thousand-year-old tales. When I went to Ireland for the first time I was surprised, utterly shocked at the notion that every local I asked about Irish legends offered a vague retelling of a random ambiguous place. I wanted some direction, but the only direction I was getting was the one leading me to our next pint. I was so frustrated! How in the world was I finding it so difficult to pinpoint places related to Irish legends when Ireland is exploding with them?

Driving along the Wild Atlantic Way in the Connemara region. Here the mountain peaks are many and the valleys are deep. This coastal road hugs craggy cliffs and sandy shores, and it never gets old.

I started to think there were no places in Ireland related to these legends outside of book shops and fireplaces. That was until I went on a journey along the Wild Atlantic Way.

What I discovered was much more than what any local could ever share over a pint in Dublin. I found that the legends themselves lived in the very earth that I stood on, in every valley, on every cliff, and in every moss-covered woodland.

They were intangible and scattered, they were literally everywhere. It really made walking boots a necessity on the hikes through the Irish landscape.

You can see the stone walls right to the cliffs. Imagine standing here, pelting winds and freezing sea spray. It's harsh conditions like these that brought people to gather, warm by the fire, and tell stories to entertain. — You can see the stone walls right to the cliffs. Imagine standing here, pelting winds and freezing sea spray. It’s harsh conditions like these that brought people to gather, warm by the fire, and tell stories to entertain.

Now before you go mapping your itinerary, there is something you need to understand about Irish legends. For many years the Irish lived in very harsh conditions, especially along Ireland’s western coast. The earth was a crucial element to Irish Mythology with its irregular landscapes that spawned curiosities. Many Irish legends and myths were told to rationalize things the people could not explain, and often still can’t.

With the western coast of Ireland being such an isolated land, these mystical, magical, and enchanting stories were preserved well. They made a natural transition into modern times especially in the most distant parts of Ireland like Achill Island, the Connemara region, the Burren, and the Dingle Peninsula.