Gweesalia: Circular Walks and Festival Tradition

Gweesalia combines circular walks with beaches, water sports and a lively tradition of events. Both Geesala Loop Walks start in the village and offer circular routes. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you can make a walk a regular part of your trip; if you’re mainly interested in the festival or the coast, you’ll find other ideas for your holiday days.

Circular Walks and Views

The Geesala Purple Loop offers views of Achill and the nearby beaches of Dooyork, Doolough, Roy and Doohoma. The beaches give the route a distinctive coastal feel, while the walk itself puts hiking centre stage. If you’d rather spend your time enjoying the views and getting active than attending an event, this route is a great idea for your trip planning.

The same minimum equipment is recommended for both the Geesala Purple Loop and the Geesala Red Loop: hiking boots, waterproof clothing, a mobile phone, snacks and drinks. This recommendation provides practical guidance for preparing for either walk. Pack the items listed if you plan to do one of the loops.

Geesala Festival and Races

The Geesala Festival is held every August. Its traditional sports include horse racing, tug-of-war and other competitions, which take place in both Gweesalia and neighbouring Doolough Strand. The first Geesala Festival was held in 1993. This gives the event a long history in the area and makes it a very different reason to visit from enjoying a quiet walk or the beaches.

The Geesala Races include horse and dog racing at Doolough Beach in Gweesalia, County Mayo. This beach event takes place every year in August. August is therefore a particularly interesting time to visit if you’re interested in the races or the festival. Walks, coastal experiences and event traditions appeal to different interests; you can take into account which ones you want to shape your stay when choosing a holiday rental or holiday home in Gweesalia.

Culture and Experiences on the Atlantic

Literary history is also part of Gweesalia’s distinctive character: writer John Millington Synge often visited remote parts of the west of Ireland and was inspired in Gweesalia to write his best-known work, “The Playboy of the Western World.” If you value cultural connections as well as scenery and activities, you can associate this place with Synge and his work. The cultural heritage areas of Ederglen and Glenturk are in the vicinity of Carrowmore Lake.

For active days on the water, the beaches in the Gweesalia–Doohoma area are good starting points for kayaking, jet skiing and water skiing. There are several opportunities for sea fishing in the Atlantic waters around Gweesalia and Doohoma. This means there are different ways to spend time by the water: getting out on it or going sea fishing. Along with the walks and festival, these interests can help you decide what you want to focus on during your trip.

When choosing somewhere to stay for your holiday, think about which aspects of Gweesalia matter most to you: walks with views, August events, cultural connections or Atlantic activities. This lets you focus your search for a holiday rental or holiday home on the experiences you want to include in your stay.

Explore More Places

More destinations: Castlebar, Partry, Knock, Ballytoohy, Sheean, Ross Port, Islandeady, Dooagh.

For the broader travel overview: County Mayo.