Achill’s Top Attractions

The Deserted Village


The Deserted Village at Slievemore (which is found at approximately the 12k mark along the marathon route) is arguably Achill’s best-known man-made attraction.
The village consists of some 80-100 stone cottages located along a mile-long stretch of road on the southern slopes of Slievemore mountain. While some of these dwellings were occupied as summer ‘booley’ homes within living memory, the area itself is rich in archaeological artefacts including megalithic tombs dating from the Neolithic period some 5,000 years ago. Local field systems and site remnants indicate that settlement in this area dates from at least early Mediaval times.
Slievemore is the largest and most recently abandoned of several ‘booley’ settlements on Achill Island. Booleying refers to the practice of living in different locations during the summer and winter periods, primarily to allow cattle to graze in summer pasture.
Sheltered under the slopes of Slievemore and hidden from the 21st century, this tranquil corner of a remote island is a perfect place for quiet reflection and remembrance ­– and a haunting reminder of times past.