Killala Bay

Killala Bay (Irish: Cuan Chill Ala) is a bay on the west coast of Ireland between County Mayo and County Sligo. It is situated between Kilcummin Head to the west and Lenadoon Point to the east.[2] and is the estuary for the River Moy. The village of Killala is situated at the southwest corner of the bay.

Killala Bay
LocationCounty Mayo
Coordinates54°15′N 9°08′W
Ocean/sea sourcesAtlantic Ocean
Basin countriesIreland
Max. width5.5 miles (8.9 km)
Surface area1,061 hectares (10.61 km2)
Max. depth36 metres (20 fathoms)
SettlementsKillala
Official nameKillala Bay/Moy Estuary
Designated7 June 1996
Reference no.843[1]

Geography
Killala Bay from Ordnance Survey Ireland Half-Inch Sheet 6 North Mayo, Published 1956

The bay is on the west coast of Ireland between County Mayo and County Sligo. It is situated between Kilcummin Head to the west and Lenadoon Point to the east.[2] and is the estuary for the River Moy. The village of Killala is situated at the southwest corner of the bay. Bartragh Island is situated in the center of the bay.

Water

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

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

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[lower-alpha 1], 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.[5]

Ross Strand on the bay near Killala village is a Blue Flag beach.[6]

References
  1. A mark is a spot suitable for the fishing
  1. Ramsar (1996).
  2. Newpace Inc (2014).
  3. SAI (2019).
  4. eOceanic (2020).
  5. Editor (2011).
  6. Midwest Radio (2019).
  • Editor (22 April 2011). Editor (ed.). "Life's not that sweet for Cockles…". Irishmarinelife.wordpress.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  • eOceanic (2020). "Killala Bay". eOceanic. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  • Midwest Radio (20 May 2019). "Two Mayo beaches lose their Blue Flag status". Midwest Radio. Retrieved 26 May 2020. The 2019 Mayo blue flags have been awarded to ... Ross Killala ...</ref>
  • NewPace Inc, ed. (2008). "Killala Bay". anchorageworld.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  • Ramsar (7 June 1996). "Killala Bay/Moy Estuary". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  • SAI (2019). "Sea Angling in Ireland - The Shore Marks of North Mayo & West Sligo". Sea Angling Ireland.</ref>
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