Clew Bay

Clew Bay (Irish: Cuan Mó) is a natural ocean bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It contains Ireland's best example of sunken drumlins. According to tradition, there is an island in the bay for every day of the year. The bay is overlooked by Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain, and the mountains of North Mayo. Clare Island guards the entrance of the bay. From the southwest part of the bay eastwards are Louisburgh, Lecanvey, Murrisk, and Westport; north of Westport is Newport, and westwards from there lies Mulranny, gateway to Achill. From the south side of the bay, between Clare Island and Achill, Bills Rocks can be seen.

Clew Bay was the focus of the O'Malley family possessions in the Middle Ages, and is associated especially with Gráinne O'Malley. During the Irish Civil War in July 1922, 400 Free State troops were landed at Clew Bay to take Westport and Castlebar from Anti-Treaty forces. The bay is also home to Dorinish, a private island purchased by John Lennon in 1967. Les Glénans, a non-profit sailing school, has a branch on Collanmore Island where sailing on dinghys, sailboards and catamarans is taught. In recent years there has been controversy over fish-farming in the bay.