ABOUT GLENISLAND

The village of Glenisland is situated near the centre of County Mayo, 10 km north-west of Castlebar and 10 km east of Newport. It varies in hight from 15 m above sea level on the shores of Beltra Lough to 430 m at the top of Croaghmoyle on which stands a TV mast. Latitude 53°55' North, Longitude 9°20' West. Average yearly rainfall is around 1250 mm with about 65% falling in the winter half. Temperatures vary from a July average of 15°C to a January average of 5°C. Glenisland is bounded to the North by the rocky outcrops which lead up to Croaghmoyle and to the East by the windmill topped hills of Raheenbar and Knockrappalaghaun. The "Glen" part of the name is obvious, but the "Island" is not so simple. Confusion between the Irish word for island (oileán) and the word for seagull (faoileán) has fortunalely left us with Glenisland instead of Glenseagull. The surrounding mountains Nephin, Knockaffertaghand and Bucksogh and Beltra Lough nestling in the centre with its islands and peninsulas contribute to the scenery of the area. The wooded hills and a mix of green fields and peat bogs interspersed with many small lakes provides a variety of landscapes which change in colour and texture from season to season....
The centre of Glenisland lies along the Castlebar - Belmullet road, the R312. Peripheral townlands are along minor roads to the east and west. The area both benefits and suffers from its nearness to the county town. Many residents travel the short distance to work in factories, shops, hospitals etc. and shop in supermarkets. However it is difficult to maintain local services with so much competition so close at hand. The majority of the male population is involved in farming, about 30% are fulltime, about 30% are part time with about 40% having no involvement in agriculture. The female sector is divided 50% housewifes and 50% working outside the home. Farming is almost entirely livestock. Cattle and sheep with a small number of horses and deer. Sheep mainly to produce lambs for sale and cows (sucklers) to rear calves which are destines for local and export beef markets.
There is very little tillage or dairying. Many of the hills are steep and covered with with peat and heather and so are suitable only for rough grazing. Even in the lower land many fields have some degree of slope which can help with drainage but poses problems when it is necessary to use machinery. High rainfall and impermeable rocks result in wet soils where rushes become a problem if not constantly sprayed with specialised weedkillers. In 1958 government planting of forests began in Glenisland, it now covers more than half the area.The largest area is south of Croaghmoyle stretching from Doogary to Killaghwaun. A second large expanse runs from Muckanagh to Lappallagh. The forests are made up of Lodgepole pine and Sitka Spruce. The Lodgepole will grow on the poorest of land, even on sand or gravel, but have little value when harvested. Sitka Spruce will grow well on slightly better soils and are more profitable. Windmills now can be seen all along the hills on the east side of the Glen. While providing much needed clean electricity, many feel their appearence does not add to the scenic attraction of the area. The windmills are surrounded by blanket bog and the many roads built to service them have opened up an area for turf cutting which was previously inaccessible. There are few other bogs used in Glenisland in contrast to past times when turf was burned in every home. There are four ring forts in Glenisland providing evidence of people living in the area in early Christian times. On Tree Island in the western part of Beltra Lough there is a large earthern mound raised above the the level of high water. A bronze sword was found in the water just opposite the island.
The famine of the 1840s had a massive influence on Glenisland. Failure of the potato crop caused many deaths from hunger and disease. The blight was so bad that many people did not dig out the potato ridges and some of these lazy beds can still be seen in places which have survived afforestation. Many of the people who could left for England, America an Australia. This accelerated a trend which had existed as a steady stream, but became a torrent which continued until the 1960s. There was another in the 1980s and unfortunately we now have another major leak. Many villages were depopulated after the 1840s like Knockbaun, Claggan and Lappalagh. Part of the townland of Lappalagh, in which no one now lives, was known as the Fourty Marys. There is little evidence on the ground of many of those villages, even the lazy beds have been covered by coniferous forest. The 1960s and 1970s were better times in Glenisland. The availability of jobs in factories in Castlebar and improvement in farm incomes as a result of Ireland joining the EU (then the Common Market) led to many new houses being built and many young couples settling down locally. From the 90s to the late 00s things boomed again, the area experienced in-migration and the greatest house building period of its history. Like most places in Ireland the present recession has caused problems for many in the area. Large morgages taken out in the day of the Celtic Tiger and unemployment and underemployment of many who were involved in the building industry is again causing many young people to take the emigrant route. Farming is enjoying a profitable period after many decades hardship. Agricultural exports are on the increase and prices for sheep and cattle are at an alltime high. It is ironic that a sector which had recently been seen as the poor relation is again becoming the corner stone of the area.

Visitors to Glenisland often comment on the older buildings like the school and the Garda station built in pre-independence times. Constructed of red sandstone found locally and cut by hand, they have retained their character and are a testiment to the taste of those who designed and built them.. There are a number of bridges like Bunnahowna near the Garda station and one in Beltra just south of the crossroads which are built of the same stone. There is a Roman Catholic church at Barnastang - right in the centre of Glenisland. About 500m to the north is the cemetery, known locally as Killeen. Surrounded by steep rocky slopes with their lower parts clothed in oak, ash and hazel, within earshot of the stream tumbling over the rocks, it is a peaceful setting for the repose of the ancestors of the area. Many salmon anglers visit Glenisland to fish Beltra Lough. It is noted for its spring salmon and the season lasts from March 20 until the end of September. The Glenisland Co-operative is the local club which runs the east side of the lake. Fishing is fly only and membership is open to all, day tickets are als available. Sea trout arrive in in summer but a catch and release system is in place. There are a number of smaller lakes like Loughanaveeny and Lough Ben which hold brown trout and for which no licence is needed.

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