Join Darragh sightseeing around Clew Bay

THE spectacular scenery of picturesque Clew Bay is being opened up to locals and visitors in a new tourism drive, writes Tom Gillespie.

Behind the initiative is Newport skipper Darragh McGee, who is offering sightseeing tours of the bay in his White Water II, a 38-foot chartered angling boat with 420hp.

Licensed to carry 12 passengers, Darragh requires a minimum of six to make the trips, which are tidal dictated.

The White Water II departs the easily-accessible pontoon at Newport Harbour. The first stop is at Seal Island where you can view grey seals lazing on the rocks.

Then, heading south, tours pass by Inishdaff, the island where most islanders went to Mass and where they buried their dead.

Navigating round the famous Inishturkbeg, you will travel west to Inishoo, once home to a coastguard station and probably the most visited island in the inner bay during the summer because of its sandy beach and shallow waters.

From there groups travel north to see Rosturk Castle and then easterly to Roigh to view Carraigahowley Castle as Pirate Queen, Grainne Uaille, would have seen it as she returned from her many seafaring sorties. From there it's back to bay in Newport.

The total trip time is one hour to an hour-and-a-half, depending on weather conditions.

Booking is in advance to (086) 3884425 and the cost is €20 per person, and trip times vary each day due to tides.

Darragh said: 'Clew Bay has, according to tradition, 365 islands, one for every day of the year. It's probably the most beautiful bay in Ireland, and the views from it are spectacular, with Croagh Patrick as the backdrop.

'The islands in Clew Bay are partly drowned drumlins, which are elongated, steep-sided hills, sometimes described as whale-backed, that were formed when glaciers reshaped the landscape in the last ice age.

'Most of the islands in the bay are uninhabited, although a few brave souls cling to the age-old tradition of living on a small island all year round.'

Some years ago Darragh swopped a career on the road for one on the high seas. And seven years on he is delighted with the change as he skippers the White Water II around Clew Bay with both angling parties and sightseers.

Darragh's interest in the angling charter business stemmed from his father, Peter, who had the 10th boat ever registered in the country, operating out of Newport.

'I always had a keen interest in the fishing,' Darragh admitted. 'I spent a lot of my time on the road driving for various companies and working for myself.

'After being on the road all that length of time I got fed up with it. It was taking its toll on my back. I had no life so I thought the right thing to do was to get into the fishing again. 

I have always had a boat - ribs and small fishing boats. So I thought if I could make a pound out of something you enjoy, all the better.

'I saw the opening for the boat in Newport. There was nobody operating out of this port at the time. I am still the only licensed charter operating out of Newport.'