Erris

Erris (Irish: Iorras) is a part of County Mayo in the west of Ireland. It is by the sea and has lots of bog, hills, and cliffs. The biggest towns are Belmullet and Bangor Erris.

The name Erris means "western headland." Long ago, a tribe called the Fir Domnann lived here.^[1]

About 8,000 people live in Erris. There are five main parishes: Kilcommon, Kilmore, Kiltane, Belmullet, and Ballycroy.

Some villages in Erris are in the Gaeltacht, where people speak Irish every day. The biggest Irish-speaking place is Ceathrú Thaidhg. In all, around 3,500–5,000 people in Erris speak Irish as their first language.

Much of Erris is covered by blanket bog. This is wet, soft ground made by heavy rain over many years. It is home to frogs, insects, moss, and rare birds.

Erris also has lakes, sea inlets, cliffs, dunes, sandy beaches, and islands. Many people come here to watch birds like geese, corncrakes, and choughs.

The oldest rocks in Ireland, about 1.8 billion years old, are found here on the coast at Annagh Head and Elly Bay.

At the far north is Erris Head, with very high cliffs over the Atlantic Ocean. You can only get there on foot.

After the Ice Age, Erris was full of trees. Farmers later cut the woods to make fields. But the soil was poor, and rain made the land turn into bog. Old tree stumps can still be seen in the bog today.

In the 1600s, many Irish families were sent west into poor land like Erris. During the Great Famine (1845–47), many people here died or left for other lands.

Erris is also in old Irish stories. The Children of Lir are said to be buried on the island of Inishglora. Another story, the Táin Bó Flidhais, tells of a cattle raid in Erris long ago.

Old records say there was a castle in Doolough.^[2] It was the home of the Barrett family and Sir Edmund Barrett, and the Barons of Irrus.^[3] The castle was taken over for a time by stranded Spanish sailors.^[4]

Erris is also linked with the title 'Baron of Erris' (also called Baron of Irrus). This was a feudal barony in Ireland, a kind of lordship over the land in old times.

The title was held by members of the Barrett family, who were once an important clan in the west of Ireland.^[5] The Barons of Irrus were part of the history of the area and are remembered as tied to the land of Erris. Currently, it is held by Louis Barratt.^[6]

Erris is also known for strong winds and sea waves, which may be used for new energy. It is near the Corrib gas field, which has been much talked about.

In 2017, a Coast Guard helicopter crashed off Erris. Local people helped with the big search, and they won a People of the Year Award.

• County Mayo
• Gaeltacht