{{short description|Barony in County Mayo, Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Erris | native_name = ''Iorras'' | settlement_type = Barony | image_skyline = Mayo Barony-Map Erris.jpg | image_caption = Location of Erris (Green) within County Mayo | image_shield = | pushpin_map = Ireland | pushpin_label_position = right | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Ireland | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Connacht | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = County Mayo | subdivision_type3 = Municipal district | subdivision_name3 = Belmullet | subdivision_type4 = Dáil Éireann | subdivision_name4 = Mayo | subdivision_type5 = EU Parliament | subdivision_name5 = Midlands–North-West | established_title = | established_date = | elevation_max_m = | elevation_min_m = | population_footnotes = | population_total = 8,278 | population_density_km2 = auto | area_total_km2 = 932.6 | population_as_of = Census 2016 | timezone1 = GMT (UTC) | utc_offset1 = +0 | timezone1_DST = IST (WEST) | utc_offset1_DST = -1 | blank_name_sec2 = Dialing code | blank_info_sec2 = +353 41 | website = }}
'''Erris''' is a barony in northwestern County Mayo in Ireland consisting of over {{convert|230452|acre|km2}}, much of which is mountainous blanket bog.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.from-ireland.net/mayo/lewis/kilcommonerris.htm |title=From Ireland Genealogy & Family History |publisher=from-ireland.net |access-date=28 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217085443/http://from-ireland.net/mayo/lewis/kilcommonerris.htm |archive-date=17 December 2010 }}</ref> It has extensive sea coasts along its west and north boundaries. The main towns are Belmullet and Bangor Erris. The name Erris derives from the Irish 'Iar Ros' meaning 'western promontory'. The full name is the Iorrais Domnann, after the Fir Bolg tribe, the Fir Domnann.<ref>{{cite book |author-link=John T. Koch |first=John T. |last=Koch |title=Celtic Culture: a historical encyclopedia |isbn= 1851094407 |year=2006 |page=750}}</ref> To its north is the wild Atlantic Ocean and the bays of Broadhaven and Sruth Fada Conn and to its west is Blacksod Bay. Its main promontories are the Doohoma Peninsula, Mullet Peninsula, Erris Head, the Dún Chiortáin and Dún Chaocháin peninsulas and Benwee Head.<ref name="HistoryInMaps">[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlkik/ihm/baronie3.htm Ireland's History in Maps - Baronies page 3]</ref>
There are five Catholic parishes in Erris: Kilcommon, Kilmore, Kiltane, Belmullet and Ballycroy.
==Gaeltacht== thumb|The Stags of Broadhaven Bay with Benwee Head in the foreground Parts of Erris are in a Gaeltacht area, with first-language speakers of Irish in the following areas of the barony: An Fál Mór, Tamhaiin na hUltaí, Glais, Eachléim, Tearmann, Tránn, An Mullach Rua, Cartúr, An Baile Úr, Cill Ghallagáin, An Corrán Buí, Ceathrú na gCloch, Port a' Chluaidh, Ros Dumhach and Ceathrú Thaidhg. The area with the most Irish speakers is Ceathrú Thaidhg.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celt.dias.ie/publications/cat/e/e2-9.html |title=School of Celtic Studies - The Irish of Erris, Co. Mayo: a phonemic study |publisher=Celt.dias.ie |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref> There are between 3,500-5,000 native Irish speakers in Erris.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}
== Geography == === Topography and geology === thumb|Bangor Way way-marked walking trail Much of inland Erris is covered with blanket bog. A triangle between Ballycroy, Bellacorick and Bangor Erris consists of little else over its surface. Blanket bog, unlike raised bog, grows slowly across the landscape like a blanket covering the ground, due to a continuous supply of water from rainfall, maintaining waterlogged conditions on the ground. The bog is acidic with a pH of between 3.5 and 4.2. This is Atlantic blanket bog and it provides a suitable habitat for many species of flora, particularly small species of mosses, bryophytes, carnivorous plants and delicate flowers such as the scarlet pimpernel. Species of fauna found on Atlantic blanket bog, include smaller varieties such as frogs and insects as well as many bird varieties, not common elsewhere.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipcc.ie/infoblanketbogfs.html |title=IPCC information sheets - Blanket Bogs |publisher=Ipcc.ie |date=15 June 1919 |access-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002053529/http://www.ipcc.ie/infoblanketbogfs.html |archive-date=2 October 2010 }}</ref><ref name="birdwatchmayo1">{{cite web |url=http://www.birdwatchmayo.org/sightings/birds/index.htm |title=BirdWatch Mayo |publisher=BirdWatch Mayo |access-date=5 June 2010 |archive-date=27 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027110622/http://www.birdwatchmayo.org/sightings/birds/index.htm |url-status=usurped }}</ref> upright|thumb|Dolphins in Sruwaddacon Bay August 2010 Several areas of the blanket bog are protected under European legislation such as Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas (Birds Directive) and Natural Heritage Areas. These include the Glenamoy Bog Complex, Ballycroy National Park and Bellacorick.
Erris has a large range of habitats including blanket bogs, estuaries, salt marshes, fresh water lakes, coasts, cliffs, machair, sand dunes, sandy beaches and rocky shores. It is an important area for bird watchers as the largely treeless landscape allows relatively easy access for birdwatching. Brent geese overwinter here feeding along the estuaries,<ref name="birdwatchmayo1"/> and corncrake, chough, rock dove and twite are sometimes seen at Erris Head.<ref name="birdwatchmayo2">{{cite web |url = http://www.birdwatchmayo.org/birding_sites/sites/mullettpenisula.html |title = The Mullet Peninsula |publisher = BirdWatch Mayo |website = birdwatchmayo.org |access-date = 21 November 2018 |archive-date = 16 July 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716221824/http://www.birdwatchmayo.org/birding_sites/sites/mullettpenisula.html |url-status = usurped }}</ref> Sightings of rarer birds, such as the grey phalarope, booted warbler and Wilson's petrel, have also been recorded.<ref name="birdwatchmayo2"/><ref name="birdwatchmayo1"/>
The oldest rocks in Ireland, some 1.8 billion years old, are to be found on the west coasts of Erris.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geology.ie/reports-mullet.php |title=Irish Geological Association |publisher=Geology.ie |date=22 June 2008 |access-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721124346/http://www.geology.ie/reports-mullet.php |archive-date=21 July 2011 |via=Wayback Machine }}{{free access}}</ref> Pink or orange striped gneisses are found along the beaches of Elly Bay and Annagh Head where they have become separated from the same rocks on the east coast of Northern Canada over hundreds of millions of years by the separation of tectonic plates in the mid Atlantic Ocean.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://jgs.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/144/3/401 |title=U-Pb zircon geochronology from the Precambrian Annagh Division gneisses and the Termon Granite, NW County Mayo, Ireland - AFTALION and MAX 144 (3): 401 |journal = Journal of the Geological Society |doi=10.1144/gsjgs.144.3.0401 |publisher=Jgs.geoscienceworld.org |s2cid=130753066 |access-date=5 June 2010|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e07_AvEChXMC&pg=PA59 |title=A revised correlation of Precambrian ... |isbn=9781897799116 |access-date=5 June 2010|last1=Harris |first1=Anthony Leonard |last2=Gibbons |first2=Wes |year=1994 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Pre-Caledonian History of the Annagh Gneiss Complex North-Western Ireland, and Correlation with Laurentia-Baltica |jstor=30002311|last1=Daly |first1=J. Stephen |journal=Irish Journal of Earth Sciences |year=1996 |volume=15 |pages=5–18 }}</ref> "Erris Head" (Irish: ''Ceann Iorrais'') is a promontory at the northernmost tip of the Mullet Peninsula. It is a landmark known well by mariners and is one of the sea areas cited by Met Éireann's weather forecasters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.met.ie/forecasts/sea-area.asp |title=Sea Area Forecast - Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service Online |publisher=Met.ie |date=6 May 2010 |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref> The coastline of Erris has some of "the grandest sea cliffs in Ireland"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.libraryireland.com/Atlas/Mayo.php |title=Mayo |publisher=Libraryireland.com |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref> over the Atlantic Ocean from where the next stop is the east coast of America. Erris Head is not served by any road and can only be reached by crossing a number of fields from the hamlet of Glenlara where the road ends.
===Settlements and islands=== {{main|List of towns, villages and places of interest in the Barony of Erris}} Along the coast there are several uninhabited islands. These include the Inishkea Islands,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://irishislands.info/inishkea.html |title=Insihkea Islands |publisher=Irishislands.info |date=28 October 1927 |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4707&Itemid=38 |title=Beautiful isles |publisher=Mayonews.ie |date=5 August 2008 |access-date=5 June 2010 |archive-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221165434/http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4707&Itemid=38 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Inishglora,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://irishislands.info/glora.html |title=Inishglora |publisher=Irishislands.info |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref> Duvillaun,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://irishislands.info/moduvill.html |title=Duvillaun |publisher=Irishislands.info |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref> the Stags of Broadhaven Bay and other smaller islands.<ref>Erris Islands: [http://irishislands.info/moduvill.html moduvill], [http://irishislands.info/glora.html glora], [http://irishislands.info/inishkea.html inishkea]</ref>
[[File:View across Mayo blanket bog from Rathmore.JPG|thumb|View across Erris blanket bog southwards from Carrowmore Lake]] thumb|An Dúna at Kilgalligan, Kilcommon, Erris
== Archaeology and history == thumb|A little stone circle at Gortbrack, Kilcommon parish, Erris. Erris, in common with most of inland Ireland, became covered in extensive native woodland a few thousand years after the last Ice Age retreated (approx 15,000 years ago) but its northern and western shores remained relatively lightly afforested. Across inland Erris, the remains of these forests can be seen across the blanket bog landscape in the form of fossilised greying tree stumps which are mainly the remains of ancient Scots pine trees. These become most obvious where there has been harvesting of turf (peat) for fuel. The odd petrified bog oak can be found too.
During the Neolithic period, starting about 6,000 years ago, the first people living in Ireland whose ancestors had hunted and gathered along the coastlines of Erris from about 9,000 years ago, began to cut down the forestry to clear land for growing crops and grazing livestock. Because the underlying rock type was ancient and heavily weathered schists the soil was thin and easily eroded by inclement weather. After a couple of years the crops began to fail and the Neolithic people had to clear the native woodlands further and further inland to clear more land for their crops.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipcc.ie/infopollenhist.html |title=IPCC information sheets - Pollen History Preserved in Bogs |publisher=Ipcc.ie |access-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209175316/http://www.ipcc.ie/infopollenhist.html |archive-date=9 December 2010 |via=Wayback Machine }}{{free access}}</ref> With minor changes in climate and high rainfall levels the land became blanketed by the bog and remains that way to the current day.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} When present-day turf cutters harvest the bog for fuel, archaeological remains, mainly from the Neolithic and early Bronze Age, which have become buried under the bog often come to light.<ref>For information on the archaeology of Kilcommon parish, see ''Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teo'' in Carrowteige.{{nonspecific|date=May 2024}}</ref> Some archaeological sites are marked on Ordnance Survey maps.
The period of Early Christianity saw several small churches set up but no major religious houses came to the area. During the Plantations of Ireland, there were two major landlords in the area - the Binghams and the Carters. Oliver Cromwell's policy (mid 17th century) of sending the native Irish who refused to bow down to him "to hell or to Connaught" saw a large influx of population into Erris where the disinherited native Irish tried to eke a living from very poor quality agricultural land under the tenancy of the landlords and their agents.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} During the Irish Famine of 1845 - '47 many died in Erris despite the close proximity of the sea, because they could not raise the cash to fund a passage to America.
Some 19th- and early 20th-century antiquarians and surveyors visited the Erris area and wrote about their experiences and thoughts on the area at that time. These include works by Patrick Knight (''Erris in the Irish Highlands''), Caesar Otway (''Sketches in Erris and Tyrawley'') and Thomas Johnson Westropp (''The Promontory Forts and Early Remains of the Coast of Mayo'').<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Promontory Forts and Early Remains of the Coasts of County Mayo |jstor=25514241 | journal = Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland }}</ref> The Ulster Cycle legend of the Táin Bó Flidhais concerns the Barony of Erris in the time period of approx the 1st century AD.
=== Rescue 116 search === The community of Erris gave support to the extensive search and rescue operation following the 2017 Irish Coast Guard Rescue 116 crash. For its efforts, the community and the Irish Coast Guard were awarded a People of the Year Award in 2018.<ref name="PeopleOfTheYear">{{cite news |date=15 April 2018 |archive-date=16 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416060701/https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0415/954699-people-of-the-year/ |access-date=16 April 2018 |website=RTÉ.ie |title=Coast Guard and Catherine Corless honoured at People Of The Year awards |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0415/954699-people-of-the-year/}}</ref>
== Legend and folklore == Folklore is an important part of the culture of Erris.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/090151b28015abf0.pdf | publisher = Erris Inshore Fisherman's Association | title = Submission To Environment Protection Agency & Oral Hearing Request | via = epa.ie | date = 15 February 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishpressreleases.ie/2008/07/04/island-culture-and-arts-24-26-july-2008-belmullet/ |title=Irish Press Releases » Island Culture and Arts 24–26 July 2008 Belmullet |publisher=Irishpressreleases.ie |access-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125028/http://www.irishpressreleases.ie/2008/07/04/island-culture-and-arts-24-26-july-2008-belmullet/ |archive-date=21 July 2011 |via=Wayback Machine }}{{free access}}</ref>
A number of well-known folklore tales have their origins in (or are associated with) the area. The Children of Lir, according to tradition, are buried on the island of Inisglora. The children were turned into swans by their jealous stepmother and doomed to spend the next 900 years on lakes and waters in Ireland. When they finally reclaimed their human form on Inisglora, they were so old that they died and were buried there.
''Táin Bó Flidhais'' is the tale of a cattle raid in which raiders came to Erris from the Royal site at Cruachán (Rathcroghan) at Tulsk, County Roscommon to Rathmorgan Fort (Iorras Domhnann) at the south end of Carrowmore Lake in the centre of the Barony. The remains of Rathmorgan fort on top of the mountain can be seen from the road below.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corona.edu/Book%20of%20Interest/page62/page63/page107/page107.html |title=The Driving of Flidais' Cattle |publisher=Corona.edu |access-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514125430/http://www.corona.edu/Book%20of%20Interest/page62/page63/page107/page107.html |archive-date=14 May 2010 |via=Wayback Machine }}{{free access}}</ref>
Brian Rua U'Cearbhain from Inver is remembered in folklore as the prophet of Erris.
The small village of Glencastle has some large mounds in the narrow valley that are not naturally occurring. They can be seen on the right hand side, close to the roadside on the approach to Belmullet from the east. These have never been archaeologically investigated but folklore legends recall that this was the old gateway into the Mullet and a toll had to be paid for each traveller who passed through or the traveller may never be seen again. There were no roads through this area of Mayo until less than two hundred years ago. In recent years the Glencastle Valley has been drastically altered by extensive quarrying.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lennonquarries.com/about.html |title=About |publisher=Lennonquarries.com |access-date=5 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214131922/http://lennonquarries.com/about.html |archive-date=14 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Water sports == thumb|Kite buggying fun at Claggan Island tombola, Erris Erris is a popular location for many types of watersports ranging through fishing, sailing, surfing, swimming, wind surfing, kiteboarding and kite surfing.<ref name="Erris Beo">{{cite web|url=http://www.errisbeo.ie/ |title=Erris Beo |publisher=Errisbeo.ie |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref>
== Walking trails == There are a number of walking trails in Erris. These include cliff walks above the Atlantic at Broadhaven Bay along Benwee Head, Glinsk and the North Mayo coastline, as well as mountain walks across uninhabited natural wilderness, and long distance walks such as the Bangor Trail and the Western Way.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mayowalks.ie/WalkingTrails/LocalisedLoopWalks/ErrisHeadLoopWalk/ |title=Mayo Walks - Erris Head Loop Walk |publisher=Mayowalks.ie |access-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902032247/http://www.mayowalks.ie/WalkingTrails/LocalisedLoopWalks/ErrisHeadLoopWalk/ |archive-date=2 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/Mayo/Towns/Belmul/walkbook.htm |title=Walking book from Dun Chaochain area of North Mayo, Ireland |publisher=Mayo-ireland.ie |access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref>
In 1993, the Tír Sáile Sculpture Trail project was carried out to commemorate 5,000 years of habitation in County Mayo.<ref name="saile">{{cite web |url= https://www.northmayoarttrail.com/en/home-english/ |publisher = northmayoarttrail.com | title = Tír Sáile - The North Mayo Sculpture Trail |date = 9 January 2018 | access-date = 30 October 2018 }}</ref> This trail extends through parts of Erris from the tip of the Mullet Peninsula, through Kilcommon, Belderrig and Ballycastle. The first sculptures along this trail were erected in 1993, with several more added subsequently. The creation of the sculpture trail took the form of the Meitheal, a traditional method of working where a group of workers come together to achieve a common objective.<ref name="saile"/>
== Natural resources == Erris has considerable potential for ocean energy<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5517&Itemid=38 |title=Wave power has potential to light up Ireland |publisher=MayoNews.ie |date=9 December 2008 |access-date=5 June 2010 |archive-date=11 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111223001/http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5517&Itemid=38 |url-status=dead }}</ref> in terms of its location next to the Atlantic Ocean and constant winds from the sea.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=live |work=Farmers Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524111502/https://www.farmersjournal.ie/160m-wind-farm-to-be-built-in-mayo-374176 |archive-date=24 May 2018 |date=24 May 2018 |title=€160m wind farm to be built in Mayo |url=https://www.farmersjournal.ie/160m-wind-farm-to-be-built-in-mayo-374176}}</ref> These resources have been earmarked for development.<ref>[http://www.allbusiness.com/energy-utilities/utilities-industry-electric-power/13267624-1.html Western People - Wave farm in pipeline for Erris - October 2009]</ref> There are opportunities for the development of ocean wave power projects, tidal power, hydroelectric schemes, and, wind farms amongst other clean, alternative energy generation opportunities for which the area is eminently suitable.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seai.ie/News_Events/Press_Releases/SEI_Commences_Wave_Energy_Monitoring.html |title=SEAI - Sustainable Energy Ireland Commences Wave Energy Monitoring |publisher=Seai.ie |date=23 February 2010 |access-date=5 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305173717/http://seai.ie/news_events/press_releases/sei_commences_wave_energy_monitoring.html |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.mayococo.ie/en/Planning/DevelopmentPlansandLocalAreaPlans/RenewableEnergyStrategy/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100417224224/http://www.mayococo.ie/en/Planning/DevelopmentPlansandLocalAreaPlans/RenewableEnergyStrategy/ |archive-date=17 April 2010 | website = mayococo.ie | publisher = Mayo County Council | title = Renewable Energy Strategy }}</ref>
=== Corrib gas field === thumb|Garda Síochána at Bellanaboy {{Main article|Corrib gas project |Corrib gas controversy}} The discovery of the Corrib gas field in the Atlantic Ocean some 85 km off Broadhaven Bay has led to the Corrib gas project and ensuing controversy. Raw, unodourised natural gas from fields under the Atlantic Ocean is planned to be piped at high pressure at Glengad and through the townlands of Kilcommon, to a refinery 10 km inland. Documentaries have been made on the subject .<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2001/0705/primetime.html |work=RTÉ News |title=Prime Time |date=5 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102181305/http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2001/0705/primetime.html |archive-date=2 November 2012 }}</ref> A documentary film, '''The Pipe''' by local film-maker, Richard O'Donnell, had its first showing at the Galway Film Festival on Thursday 8 July 2010, went on general release in cinemas nationwide from 3 December 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.undergroundfilms.ie/Underground_Films_Site/Films/Entries/2009/12/1_The_Pipe.html | publisher = Undergroundfilms.ie | title = The Pipe | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100312124634/http://www.undergroundfilms.ie/Underground_Films_Site/Films/Entries/2009/12/1_The_Pipe.html | archive-date = 12 March 2010 }}</ref> thumb|Elly Bay on the Mullet peninsula
==Further reading == * Cronin, Phil. Traditional Cures and Gifted People (2000) Crossmolina * Noone, Fr. S. Where the Sun Sets] (1991) Erris [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/0118/1224262565389.html] * Pipe Down - A documentary which won best feature documentary award at the Waterford Film Festival (2009)[http://www.vimeo.com/8668733]
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Gaeltacht}} {{County Mayo}} {{Mayo-baronies}}
Category:Erris Category:Baronies of County Mayo