Achill Island Hostelries

We have a wide range consisting of Hybrid Bikes, Mountain Bikes, Child Trailers and Tag-a-Long Bikes.  All bikes come with a helmet, repair kit and insurance.  Bike can be hired by the day or week with a helmet, Hi-vis, Pannier and lock.  We cover all sections of The Greenway with our shuttle buses and trailers.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm  Sat 9am-5pm  

                          Sun 10am-3pm (May-Sept)

Surf lessons on Achill Island, Ireland

Blackfield Surf School is Achill Islands only Irish Surfing Association approved surf school.

In summertime we operate from our double decker bus on Keel beach and the rest of the year we work from the LoveAchill building on the main road just one mile from Keel beach.We run lessons for children and adults and in July and August our kids surf camp is a unique surfing experience for children aged 8-16  years.

Kids Surf Camp.In July and August (and weekends in June) from 10.30am until 12.45, we run a daily summer camp for kids aged 8-16.Our aim is to provide a safe, fun learning environment where we work hard to ensure all the kids taking part have the opportunity to learn, practise and develop their skills.The camp runs from Monday-Friday inclusive and can be booked on a weekly or daily basis (we can't guarantee that there will always be space to take in kids day to day especially in the busy weeks but we do try!) We believe that water safety,wave and beach knowledge are fundamental building blocks to lifelong enjoyment of the sport, so we include all these topics informally throughout the week.

Lessons for All. For older kids and adults, we run classes on Keel beach all year around.These are suitable for individuals or groups wishing to learn to surf, whether for the first time, or to build upon previous lessons and experience.We can look after you whether you are by yourself or part of a larger group.We can help with accommodation and offer you a good rate on surfboard and wetsuit hire if you fancy taking your newly acquired skills back onto the water.

Gerry has been surfing for over 20 years and has worked as a lifeguard on beaches from north Mayo to Kerry including six summers on Keel beach.He is still a currently qualified beach lifeguard and an Irish Surfing Association qualified coach.The surf school is the original Irish Surfing Association approved school on the island, and one of only a small number in Mayo.Approval means that we meet or exceed the industry standard on issues of safety,equipment, tuition,child protection etc, and the ISA routinely inspects us to ensure that these standards are maintained.Gerry is usually around to help you with advice and a fair smattering of local knowledge

Surf Lessons usually last around an hour and a half of actual water-time.You need to leave up to two and a half hours for geting changed and on-shore instruction.We provide all the equipment, you just need to bring your swimming costume and towel and lots of enthusiasm!

Surf Shop

Our surf shop carries a range of wetsuits and bodyboards,shoes,rash vests,wax,repair kits,snorkelling sets, towels and beach robes-kites,beach toys and whatever else you might need to have fun on the 5 blue flag beaches on Achill Island.

We also rent surfboards and wetsuits-in summertime from the double decker bus on Keel beach and the rest of the season from our shop.

Contact us on 089 4221553 or click here

Surf lessons on Achill Island, Ireland

Blackfield Surf School is Achill Islands only Irish Surfing Association approved surf school.

In summertime we operate from  Keel beach and we run lessons for children and adults .In July and August our kids surf camp is a unique surfing experience for children aged 8-16  years.

Kids Surf Camp.In July and August (and weekends in June) from 10.30am until 12.45, we run a daily summer camp for kids aged 8-16.Our aim is to provide a safe, fun learning environment where we work hard to ensure all the kids taking part have the opportunity to learn, practise and develop their skills.The camp runs from Monday-Friday inclusive and can be booked on a weekly or daily basis (we can't guarantee that there will always be space to take in kids day to day especially in the busy weeks but we do try!) We believe that water safety,wave and beach knowledge are fundamental building blocks to lifelong enjoyment of the sport, so we include all these topics informally throughout the week.

Lessons for All. For older kids and adults, we run classes on Keel beach all year around.These are suitable for individuals or groups wishing to learn to surf, whether for the first time, or to build upon previous lessons and experience.We can look after you whether you are by yourself or part of a larger group.We can help with accommodation and offer you a good rate on surfboard and wetsuit hire if you fancy taking your newly acquired skills back onto the water.

Gerry has been surfing for over 20 years and has worked as a lifeguard on beaches from north Mayo to Kerry including six summers on Keel beach.He is still a currently qualified beach lifeguard and an Irish Surfing Association qualified coach.The surf school is the original Irish Surfing Association approved school on the island, and one of only a small number in Mayo.Approval means that we meet or exceed the industry standard on issues of safety,equipment, tuition,child protection etc, and the ISA routinely inspects us to ensure that these standards are maintained.Gerry is usually around to help you with advice and a fair smattering of local knowledge

Surf Lessons usually last around an hour and a half of actual water-time.You need to leave up to two and a half hours for geting changed and on-shore instruction.We provide all the equipment, you just need to bring your swimming costume and towel and lots of enthusiasm!

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We also rent surfboards and wetsuits-in summertime from  Keel beach.

Contact us on 089 4221553 or click here

LoveAchill.com are happy to bring you this live streaming webcam in association with Westnet.ie and Ferndale Luxury Bed & Breakfast.The view is looking East over Keel beach on the Mayo Wild Atlantic Way, with Minaun cliffs in the background.The view changes to a close up of the surf after 30 seconds.

Loveachill.ie has been selected as a winner in this years IEDR Optimise awards.

The IE Domain Registry (IEDR), the managed registry for Ireland’s official Internet address .ie, today announced the 15 winners of its OPTIMISE 2014 Fund. The winning companies include micro-enterprises, SMEs, emerging and established companies from the retail, travel, tourism, charity and service sectors (full details below).

The IEDR’s OPTIMISE e-Commerce Website Development Fund provides €150,000 worth of professional consultancy and support to help 15 Irish SMEs and micro-enterprises upgrade their online presence and grow their business using the Internet as a sales and marketing channel.

Now in its fourth year the OPTIMISE Fund has already benefitted a total of 45 small businesses across all industries and from all parts of the country who have had free professional consultation, practical training and e-commerce development from some of Ireland’s best known online business advisers. The Fund was originally created in response to strong demand from Ireland’s SME community for practical, hands-on assistance in the area of e-commerce and new technologies.

Loveachill will use this award to assist with the development of its online shop, due to come on-stream in September 2014. The shop will offer a range of Achill themed products, designed and made by Loveachill in its Closhreed premises. Some of these items are already available in the LoveAchill shop in Closhreed and Sweeneys in Achill Sound. We have designed and manufactured items for Achill Island Holidays, Ferndale Luxury B&B as well as Achill Rovers Football club including  a custom made mirrored award for their infamous "Most Eligible Bachelor of the Year 2014" award!

We are delighted that the IEDR have given us this vote of confidence, for ourselves and the businesses and enterprises in Achill that we represent from individuals through to the Achill Business Network.

Our live webcam has proven a huge hit with visitors,potential visitors and locals alike and we are sure that this award will allow us to move onto even more exciting developments! Many thanks to Westnet.ie broadband and Ferndale luxury B+B

Read the full article here

Loveachill.ie has been selected as a winner in this years IEDR Optimise awards.

The IE Domain Registry (IEDR), the managed registry for Ireland’s official Internet address .ie, today announced the 15 winners of its OPTIMISE 2014 Fund. The winning companies include micro-enterprises, SMEs, emerging and established companies from the retail, travel, tourism, charity and service sectors (full details below).

The IEDR’s OPTIMISE e-Commerce Website Development Fund provides €150,000 worth of professional consultancy and support to help 15 Irish SMEs and micro-enterprises upgrade their online presence and grow their business using the Internet as a sales and marketing channel.

Now in its fourth year the OPTIMISE Fund has already benefitted a total of 45 small businesses across all industries and from all parts of the country who have had free professional consultation, practical training and e-commerce development from some of Ireland’s best known online business advisers. The Fund was originally created in response to strong demand from Ireland’s SME community for practical, hands-on assistance in the area of e-commerce and new technologies.

Loveachill will use this award to assist with the development of its online shop, due to come on-stream in September 2014. The shop will offer a range of Achill themed products, designed and made by Loveachill in its Closhreed premises. Some of these items are already available in the LoveAchill shop in Closhreed and Sweeneys in Achill Sound. We have designed and manufactured items for Achill Island Holidays, Ferndale Luxury B&B as well as Achill Rovers Football club including  a custom made mirrored award for their infamous "Most Eligible Bachelor of the Year 2014" award!

We are delighted that the IEDR have given us this vote of confidence, for ourselves and the businesses and enterprises in Achill that we represent from individuals through to the Achill Business Network.

Our live webcam has proven a huge hit with visitors,potential visitors and locals alike and we are sure that this award will allow us to move onto even more exciting developments! Many thanks to Westnet.ie broadband and Ferndale luxury B+B

Read the full article here

Loveachill.com is a complete listing of business activity within the Achill area. Our comprehensive site offers opportunities for business to avail of the platform to promote their activities.

We offer advanced listings  including graphics, photographs, video and translation into German and French as well as banner ads, e-mail campaigns and other web based promotions on the loveachill.com site. We are happy to design a  campaign to match the needs of your business.

We recommend that business's and service providers drop in to us, any leaflets, cards and literature they have for distribution to the public. Also if any changes are needed to your listing or if you have been accidentally missed, please contact us immediately. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We also offer user friendly website design to put you in control of your own website, as well as training on all aspects of setting up and managing your own online resources.

Contact us by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., via our contact page or chat with us live onlline to see how we can help to promote your business.

If you are a  tourism or service provider who constantly brings  visitors to the island, we want you to show them what we have to offer!

Here's how it works.

Register with us.(click on: Create an account)

Drop in and collect your custom made "Local Hero" token.

Bring your visitors to our building for a look around and if you both decide to stay for a coffee or tea..

Show us your token and your americano or tea will be on us!

Register now and get our custom made wooden token!

If you are a  tourism or service provider who constantly brings  visitors to the island, we want you to show them what we have to offer!

Here's how it works.

Register with us.(click on: Create an account)

Drop in and collect your custom made "Local Hero" token.

Bring your visitors to our building for a look around and if you both decide to stay for a coffee or tea..

Show us your token and your americano or tea will be on us!

Register now and get our custom made wooden token!

Located on the North of Achill Island, Dugort has two sandy Blue Flag beaches. The smaller of the two is located at the foot of Slievemore and is known as The Silver Strand, it is popular with swimmers, families and walkers. There are the remains of a now submerged forest at the end of beach nearest Slievemore. Every New Years Day there is an annual swim or quick dip in the ocean! The location is rich in flora and fauna and the beach is within a Special Area of Conservation. There is car parking and picnic tables. There are lifeguards stationed there during the summer season.   

One Of two Dugort Blue Flag beaches, The Golden Strand can be found approximately 3km east of Dugort Village. It looks out onto Blacksod Bay. There is car parking, but the beach is not wheelchair-accessible.  It is the location of The Blueway Kayak Trail. Sightings of bottlenose dolphins and seals are possible along this trail.

Keel is a sandy, gently curving, south facing beach.  It is a famous stretch of strand for most water sport activities especially surfing. Located beside Keel village, it is approximately 3km's in length. Very popular with Locals and tourists alike, it starts from a rocky outcrop at Keel village to the base of the magnificent Minaun cliffs, which tower 466m's above the beach. Excellent for walkers, joggers and dog walkers. There is also plenty of parking available along the beach.  It is also where the famous Blackfield "Surf Bus" is located, make sure to get a coffee, hot chocolate, hire surf equipment or just get your photo taken beside this Ex-Dublin Bus double decker, now living a far more chilled out life. Lifeguards are stationed on the beach during the summer season. 

Dooega blue flag beach is just 8 kilometres from Achill Sound in a small coastal inlet, at Dooega village. The beach is on the Atlantic Drive, which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean along the southern edge of Achill island.  Parking is available, and there is an access ramp, as well as life-saving equipment on the beach, but no lifeguard.  Dooega is an old fishing village and the sheltered south facing beach is perfect for summer swimming and sunbathing.

Keem Bay is a blue flag beach located as far west as you can go by car on Achill Island.  The bay was used for hunting basking sharks which were then towed by boat to Purteen harbour. There are numerous viewing points on the drive down to the beach with a selection of car parking places.  There is an old British army lookout post on the top of the hill to the bay's south. To the north stands Croaghaun, with Europe's highest sea cliffs. Keem Beach is located in a beautiful horseshoe bay and is a sheltered, sandy strand surrounded by high cliffs.  The beach is very popular for water sports, especially snorkeling which has a Blueway Trail.  The beach has lifeguards stationed there during the summer season.