Dun Briste

Top choice in County Mayo


An astonishing sea stack that's lashed by foaming sea, Dun Briste is Mayo's top natural sight. Legend attests that St Patrick drove all the vipers from Ireland onto the stack on Downpatrick Head, leaving the mainland snake-free. Try to choose a clear day for a visit to amplify the visuals. You can drive most of the way up to the sea edge, but then you'll need to walk the last 400m or so. Dun Briste is 6km northeast of Ballycastle.

The sea stack was shorn from the mainland in 1393 by a severe storm that left poor unfortunates stranded upon it (later rescued). Indeed, the remains of buildings survive on the stack to this day. A viewing area has been constructed by a huge blowhole set back slightly from the cliff edge. It has numerous plaques detailing the history and folklore of the area. During storms, seawater is dramatically blasted through the blowhole.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby County Mayo attractions

1. Ballinglen Art Foundation

3.49 MILES

If you see artists out capturing their impressions of the sensational scenery around here, they may well be under the patronage of this foundation. Check…

2. Céide Fields

4.73 MILES

An exposed hillside 8km northwest of Ballycastle is home to one of the world's most extensive Stone Age monuments. So far stone-walled fields, houses and…

3. Lackan Strand

5.18 MILES

Lackan Bay's beach is a stunning and vast expanse of golden sand – it's particularly beautiful as the sun goes down, making it one of Ireland's most…

4. Round Tower

9.44 MILES

Right at the centre of things and at the heart of Killala, the town's gorgeous 12th-century limestone round tower is perfectly preserved, although it was…

5. Enniscrone Beach

12.84 MILES

This gorgeous 5km stretch of sand is the real reason to visit Enniscrone, especially as the sun goes down. Cars can drive straight on to the beach; a…

6. Rosserk Abbey

13.57 MILES

Dipping its toes into the River Rosserk, this sublime Franciscan abbey dates from the mid-15th century. An eye-catching double piscina (perforated stone…

7. St Mary's Well

13.65 MILES

St Mary's is one of Ireland's most transfixing holy wells. An apparition of the Virgin Mary has drawn pilgrims here for centuries, and today a tumbledown…

8. Belleek Castle

15.74 MILES

Take a fascinating tour of this restored castle, built between 1825 and 1831 on the site of a medieval abbey. The castle was bought in the 1960s by fossil…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "ireland/ballycastle/attractions/dun-briste/a/poi-sig/1571941/1316809",
      "destination": "County-Mayo",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Ireland",
      "region": "County-Mayo",
      "position": "superzone"
    }