Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way Activity Book

GALWAY HOOKER, KINVARA, CO. GALWAY

This Activity Book belongs to...

Hi, I’m Sasha Seal!

Come with me and my friend Gulliver Gull and we’ll explore the exciting world of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Draw a Picture o f Yourself Here!

ME

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My Holiday

DUNLOUGH BA Y, CO. CORK

DATE: WHO I WAS WITH:

PLACES WE VISITED:

FOOD WE ATE:

WEATHER:

MY FAVOURITE PLACE SO FAR ON THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY:

BEST PART OF MY HOLIDAY:

Draw a Picture Here!

WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT:

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The Wild Atlantic Way The Wild Atlantic Way stretches all along the west coast of Ireland, from Inishowen in the north to Kinsale in the south.

It is 2,500 km long, making it the longest defined coastal route in the whole world. Along this magnificent trail lies some of Ireland’s most amazing scenery.

On the Wild Atlantic Way you can visit beautiful beaches, climb mountains, hike to some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe and cycle along winding country roads.

You can swim in the Atlantic Ocean, fish from the rocks, take a boat trip and watch whales and dolphins.

County Scramble!

Can you unscramble the letters to show the names of the counties along the Wild Atlantic Way?

Whatever you end up doing, you’re sure to have a wild and wonderful time!

Smallest County Leitrim is the smallest county along the Wild Atlantic Way, with just 4.7km of coastline.

Most Westerly Coast The Atlantic coast of Ireland is the most westerly coast in Europe. Next stop America!

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DONEGAL

Ocean Thrills

All along the Wild Atlantic Way you can enjoy the thrill of the ocean. Swimming off beautiful beaches, diving to see the fascinating marine life below the waves, or riding the ocean waves on a surfboard, body board or in a kayak – there are so many ways to enjoy what the Atlantic has to offer.

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What watersport is this holidaymaker enjoying?

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Join the dots and then colour in the picture.

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27 52

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57 51 60

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3 2

START

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48 49

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Far North

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MALIN HEAD GRIANÁ

N OF AIL

Grianan of Aileach l

Malin Head is the most northerly part of Ireland. The very tip of Malin Head is known as Banba’s Crown. Banba was an ancient queen of Ireland. From here there are amazing views over the Atlantic, and on a clear day you can see the Scottish hills. The Martello Tower here was once an important point for transatlantic communication. Hell’s Hole is a subterranean cave where the sea rushes through a narrow chasm in the cliffs with enormous force. There are more ocean liners and U-boats (twentieth-century German submarines) sunk off the coast of Malin Head than anywhere else in the world. At low tide the shipwreck The Twilight which sank in 1889 can sometimes be seen here.

EACH

Grianán of Aileach is a round stone fort on a hill in Inishowen. The original fort is 5,000 years old, though it has been restored. Legend says that the giants of Inishowen are sleeping beneath the fort and will wake again some day.

DONEGAL

Giant Footsteps

The cliffs of Slieve League are among the highest sea cliffs falling away at each side. But you don’t need to be a serious in Europe. These magnificent cliffs rise 600 metres above the climber to check out the view over the Giant’s Desk and Atlantic Ocean – three times higher than the Cliffs of Moher. Chair, as this amazing rock formation in the sea is known.

Experienced mountain climbers love the challenge of One You can even go on a boat trip that sails out to the Desk Man’s Pass, a narrow path at the summit with steep slopes and Chair, and see Slieve League towering above you.

What do YOU think the giant who used this desk and chair looks like? Draw a picture here.

SLIEVE LEAGUE

Eire Ahoy!

During the Second World War, the Republic of Ireland was neutral.

To let fighter planes know they were over neutral territory, the letters EIRE (Ireland) were spelled out in rocks on mountain tops. Today you can still see these letters on many mountains all along the Wild Atlantic Way.

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Fun at the Beach Grab your buckets and spades and head to one of hundreds of beautiful beaches along the Wild Atlantic Way.

Oh, I DO like to be beside the seaside, Oh, I DO like to be beside the sea!

Follow the fishing lines to see who caught the fish!

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Can you spot the odd one out in each column?

What’s in the picnic basket? Unscramble the letters.

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WISNCADH 3

1 2

Caw! Bagsie the leftover sandwiches!

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7

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PLEAP

EKCA ROGNAE

SLIGO

Queen Maeve’s Tomb KNOCKNAREA

Travelling along the Wild Atlantic Way in County Sligo you will see some amazing mountains.

One of these is Knocknarea, where you will notice a huge cairn, or pile of stones, on top.

Legend tells us that this is the tomb of Queen Maeve, the­ warrior queen of Connacht. She is said to be buried standing upright facing her enemies in Ulster.

Archaeologists believe that this cairn is actually a passage tomb similar to Newgrange, but it has never been excavated.

It is said to be bad luck to take a stone away from the cairn, but good luck to carry a stone up the mountain with you and leave it there!

BENBULBEN

Another famous Sligo mountain is Benbulben.

It has a distinctive shape, with a flat top like a table. This shape was formed during the Ice Age by glaciers moving around it.

First Woman MP Constance Markievicz grew up in Lissadell House in Sligo. She was sentenced to death for her part in the Easter Rising in 1916, but was sent to jail instead. She went on to become the first woman to be elected to Westminster in 1918 and the first woman Minister for Labour in the world in the first Irish government in 1919.

Can you work out which one is Queen Maeve, using these clues?

Horseman, pass by!

One of Ireland’s most beloved poets, William Butler Yeats, is buried at Drumcliffe.

His tombstone reads: Cast a cold Eye On Life, on Death.

Horseman, pass by!

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Queen Maeve is not wearing green Queen Maeve has five jewels on her crown Queen Maeve has a gold necklace Queen Maeve has blue eyes

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