Two Mayo locations listed among 20 best Irish holiday spots

Achill Island and Westport have been named as two of the ‘20 Best Places to Holiday in Ireland 2022’ and both are in the running for the overall title following the publication of the long list of contenders at the weekend.

Both places were among hundreds of locations which were nominated by close to 1,200 people from across the 32 counties for the title of ‘Best Place to Holiday in Ireland 2022’.

Achill, one of three islands selected from all over Ireland for the ‘Best 20’, received 42 nominations, while Westport, one of seven towns, received 13 nominations.

The Irish Times ‘Best Place to Holiday in Ireland’ competition, which is being run in association with Fáilte Ireland, began at the end of April when members of the public were invited to nominate their favourite place to holiday for the award.

The competition last took place in 2013 with the Loop Head Peninsula in County Clare emerging as the eventual winner.

As on that occasion, each of the nominated locations in this year’s competition was considered by a panel of judges on a range of criteria including natural amenities, built environment, sustainability, tourism services, diversity, a welcome for visitors, transport links, accommodation supply, cost and of course the X factor.

The panel of five judges which includes Nadia El Ferdaoussi, travel blogger; Trevor White, director of the Little Museum of Dublin; Cillian Murphy, county councillor from Loop Head, the 2013 winner; and Rosita Boland, Irish Times journalist, spent hours debating the entries, before selecting the ‘Best 20’.

‘Elemental’ and ‘the adventure island’ were just two of the expressions used by the judges to describe Achill, who praised its stunning scenery, its excellent beaches, and its friendliness.

There was also high praise for the range and variety of cafes and restaurants as well as camping, hostel, and B& B accommodation.

For its part Westport was described as an exceptionally friendly place, ‘lovingly cared for’ by both the community and the council, offering and a wide range of accommodation, shopping, and food at all prices.

The town, which won the inaugural ‘Irish Times Best Place to Live’ competition ten years ago, is also the perfect location to access the wider area including its range of beaches and walks, with Croagh Patrick only 15 kilometres away.

The chair of the Judging Panel, Conor Goodman from The Irish Times said the entries from people all over the island showcased the excellent quality and variety of holiday locations available here.

“While the competition is a celebration of the many great holiday destinations this country has to offer, it also has a serious mission.

"As well as highlighting areas of natural beauty, we want to see which locations offer the best overall visitor experience, have a wide range of amenities and where care for the environment is a priority.

"Cost and value are also key considerations in a summer of rising prices and accommodation shortages across Ireland.

"In Achill, Westport and the other locations named in the ‘Best 20’, our judges found these elements are very much to the fore as is the desire to create a warm welcome for people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Other west of Ireland locations to be nominated include, Strandhill in Sligo, Drumshanbo in Leitrim, The Burren in Clare as well as two island, Inisbofin in Galway, and Valentia in Kerry.

In addition to the three islands, the ‘Best 20’ list includes seven towns, seven regions, two cities and one lake.

Three other counties, Donegal, Galway and Clare have two representatives.

The five finalists will be named on Friday, July 22, with the overall winner announced a week later on the August Bank Holiday Weekend.

Cork was by some margin the county with the most nominations – 222 – with Donegal next on 133 and Kerry third on 124.

Mayo was fifth with 89 nominations, behind Monaghan but ahead of Waterford. The counties with the lowest number of nominations were Armagh – just one – and Roscommon with two.

While the number of nominations was a factor in the selection of the 20 holiday locations, the quality of the place itself was the chief consideration.

The full list of the ‘20 Best Places to Holiday in Ireland 2022’ includes 7 towns: Carlingford (Co. Louth) Drumshanbo (Co Leitrim), Kells (Co. Meath) Rosscarbery (Co. Cork) Strandhill (Co Sligo) Tramore (Co.Waterford) and Westport (Co. Mayo) 7 regions: Ards Peninsula and Strangford (Co Down) Bundoran and Rossnowlagh (Co Donegal) Enniskillen and the Fermanagh Lakelands (Co Fermanagh) Inishowen Peninsula (Co Donegal) Portrush and the Causeway Coast (Co Antrim) St Mullins and the Barrow Way (Co Carlow) The Burren (Co Clare); 3 islands: Achill Island (Co Mayo), Inisbofin Island (Co Galway) and Valentia Island (Co Kerry); 2 cities: Dublin and Kilkenny and 1 lake: Lough Derg (Cos Clare, Tipperary and Galway).