Minaun [Menawn] [An Mionnan]

About Minaun [Menawn] [An Mionnan]

Rising dramatically from the Atlantic on Achill Island’s southern coast, this Marilyn is defined by its sheer, vertiginous cliffs. While a maintenance road reaches the summit transmitter, the true reward is the breathtaking drop-off towards Keel Beach and the expansive views across Clew Bay to the distinctive cone of Croagh Patrick.

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Did You Know?

• •The name An Mionnán translates from Irish as 'the kid' or 'the young goat,' a title often bestowed upon craggy heights where only the most sure-footed livestock could graze.
• •The summit is home to a prominent RTÉ transmission mast, and the steep service road provides a rare 'drive-up' Marilyn, though walkers often prefer the traditional ascent from the village of Dooega.
• •The seaward face of the hill forms the Minaun Cliffs, which plunge nearly 400 metres into the ocean, offering a staggering perspective on the vast crescent of Keel Strand and the nearby Purteen Harbour.
• •On a clear day, the vista extends far beyond Achill, taking in the uninhabited Bills Rocks to the west and the distant, jagged silhouette of the Twelve Bens in Connemara to the south.
• •Reaching the top by car may feel like a shortcut, but the Atlantic wind at the cliff edge is remarkably indifferent to how you arrived.