Killala Bay
Killala Bay | |
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Location | County Mayo |
Coordinates | 54°15′N 9°08′W / 54.250°N 9.133°W |
Ocean/sea sources | Atlantic Ocean |
Basin countries | Ireland |
Max. width | 5.5 miles (8.9 km) |
Surface area | 1,061 hectares (10.61 km2) |
Max. depth | 36 metres (20 fathoms) |
Settlements | Killala |
Official name | Killala Bay/Moy Estuary |
Designated | 7 June 1996 |
Reference no. | 843[1] |
Killala Bay (Irish: Cuan Chill Ala) is a bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Mayo and County Sligo, with Kilcummin Head to the west and Lenadoon Point to the east,[2] which is the estuary for the River Moy. The village of Killala is at the southwest corner of the bay.
Geography
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Killala_Bay_from_Ordnance_Survey_Ireland_Half-Inch_Sheet_6_North_Mayo%2C_Published_1956.jpg/220px-Killala_Bay_from_Ordnance_Survey_Ireland_Half-Inch_Sheet_6_North_Mayo%2C_Published_1956.jpg)
The bay is on the west coast of Ireland between County Mayo and County Sligo, between Kilcummin Head to the west and Lenadoon Point to the east.[2] It is the estuary for the River Moy. The village of Killala is at the southwest corner of the bay, and Bartragh Island in the centre of it.
Water
[edit]The bay is an extension of the estuary of the River Moy,[1] with deep waters of the continental shelf close to the shore.[3] The total area is 1,061 hectares (10.61 km2).[1] The bay is about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) wide and the maximum depth is 36 metres (20 fathoms).[4]
The middle of the bay is safe for boats but caution needs to be exercised near the shoreline.[4]
Shore
[edit]Kilcummin Head, also known as Benwee Head, is regarded as the start of Killala Bay.[2] As such excludes Lackan Bay and Creevagh Head which lie to the northwest. To the south of the head lies the village of Kilcummin. Counter-clockwise round the bay there is Killala, River Moy, Enniscrone, Pollacheeny Harbour, before Lenadoon Point.
Activities
[edit]Killala Bay is an excellent fishing location due to the close proximity of the deep waters of the continental shelf, having both deep water rock marks[a], beach marks, and opportunities to catch deep water species from charter boats.[3] Cockles can be found in the bay due to its sheltered nature.[citation needed]
Ross Strand on the bay near Killala village is a Blue Flag beach.[5]
References
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Notes
[edit]- ^ A mark is a spot suitable for the fishing
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ a b c Ramsar (1996).
- ^ a b c NewPace Inc (2008).
- ^ a b SAI (2019).
- ^ a b eOceanic (2020).
- ^ Midwest Radio (2019).
Sources
[edit]- "Killala Bay". eOceanic. 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- "Two Mayo beaches lose their Blue Flag status". Midwest Radio. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
The 2019 Mayo blue flags have been awarded to ... Ross Killala ...
- "Killala Bay". anchorageworld.com. 2008. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
- "Killala Bay/Moy Estuary". Ramsar Sites Information Service. 7 June 1996. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- "Sea Angling in Ireland - The Shore Marks of North Mayo & West Sligo". Sea Angling Ireland. 2019.