Driving through miles and miles of verdant farmland criss-crossed with hand-set rock walls,…read morevillages and sheep, a tower comes into view. Totally isolated and perching over the rocky shores like a great, dark, bird of prey, I'm reminded of how violent these coasts were at one time instead of the fun-packed surf-spot-with-a-view they are today. Born and raised in California, to sit on a surfboard out beyond the reef and see this ancient castle dominating Hobbit-land was fucking unreal. Instead of rocks, houses, trees or piers to mark where I needed to paddle to catch waves, I was gauging my location with a castle! That's just about as cool as it gets. Oh and yeah, the water is effing cold but it burns off quickly enough as you paddle against the currents and a pub, as always, is never too far away. I believe this castle is called "O'Dowd Castle". http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=easkey%20ireland&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FEasky&ei=DJh0UeKIGcmgigLxnoDYCg&usg=AFQjCNHk3-j8XdCV6dCa7ndESmEsKJ3RNA&sig2=p_yoNBX-wu_1sb8uqNwo4g&bvm=bv.45512109,d.cGE I mentioned in my Sandhouse review that I'd met Barry Britton, Ireland's artist and surfer and he named one of his daughters after it so it's a precious place in more ways than one. Easkey is also Ireland's #1 female surfer. Her roots began right here. As with any surf spot anywhere, you won't have any problems if you put on your happy face, respect the pecking-order and charge it. Remember, you're on their turf and in their surf. And they have the leprechauns on their side with all that magic faerie dust to blow in your face. (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=easkey%20ireland&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CD8QtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DgTKnGDMCQxw&ei=DJh0UeKIGcmgigLxnoDYCg&usg=AFQjCNF09TSeqmjtBqd3hus7Ou8TRtBuOg&sig2=m9Qh-ENtJQ-CNFpvvwDKHA&bvm=bv.45512109,d.cGE)

A beautiful castle (tower) dating back to 1207 on a rocky coast. Popular surfing spot. Worth…read morestopping to get a picture or two next to crashing waves.

From http://www.visitbuncrana.com/attractions_seaside.php…read moreEnjoy quality time on this 5km blue flag status beach. Its golden sand stretches along the coast with its magnificent views of Lough Swilly, Inch Island and the town of Buncrana. Enjoy a traditional family experience where the kids can paddle, build sandcastles and enjoy an ice-cream while hunting for shells

It was a fine summer day and we'd driven from Bangor Erris through the most stunning scenery…read moreimaginable on some of the worst narrow roads imaginable. We crossed the Michael Davitt bridge onto Achill island and drove past a mobile Ulster bank van. We had Keel as our destination as we negotiated the narrow roads and meandering sheep who were everywhere and who see tourists as an inconvenience. The entire experience was a tad spooky as despite being a fine day in early summer the entire island was shrouded in mist the whole time we were there and we were there about three hours. We chose Keel as my wife used to holiday here as a child. Her family arrived with a tent to a caravan park and pitched up 15 yards from the wild Atlantic. Travelling west from here the next land is the USA. We got to Keel and the caravan park and we walked along the beach with the mighty blue/green Atlantic Ocean roaring at us as my wife relived fond memories of a stark, haunting very beautiful wilderness. Hard to believe that this stark, rugged island has been continuously inhabited from 4,000 years BC. Wow now that's impressive.