page_title: Clew Bay
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Clew Bay / History
caption_attribution_description: English: map of Clew Bay, Western Ireland around 1890
context_page_description: Clew Bay is a natural ocean bay in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. It contains Ireland's best example of sunken drumlins. The bay is overlooked by Croagh Patrick to the south and the Nephin Range 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.
context_section_description: The bay was anciently known in Irish as Cuan Mod[h] ("Mod Harbour") or Modlind ("Mod Pool"), and was associated with the Fir Bolg. Some writers claim that this name derives from Modh, one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Another possibility is the Old Irish mod, moth, which meant "penis"; it is possible that the bay was imagined as a penis thrusting into the land.
  Another old name is Cuan Umaill ("harbour of Umhaill"), which was rendered in English as "Bay of the Owly", and then "Bay of the Owles." The English names Bay of Borace, Horrus, Baragh and Boruce are all recorded, all references to Burrishoole (Buiríos Umhaill). The name Clew Bay, of uncertain origin, first appears in a 1714 map; it may be derived from cliath, "hurdle".
  Clew Bay was the focus of the O'Malley family possessions in the Middle Ages, and is associated especially with Grace O'Malley or Granuaile. She is known as the Pirate Queen who commanded a fleet of ships and maintained several castles, including those on Clare Island, Achill and Rockfleet.
  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.
caption: Map c. 1890
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