Megalithic Monuments of Ireland

County Mayo, 'Contae Mhaigh Eo', was named after the village of Mayo, 'Maigh Eo' meaning 'plain of the yew trees' and is the second largest of Connacht's five counties. Throughout the county, there is a wealth of archaeological remains from the Neolithic period, particularly of megalithic tombs and ritual stone-circles, of which there is 160 recorded megaliths. Extensive pre-bog field systems have been discovered under the blanket bog, particularly in an area known as 'The Ceide Fields' in Ballycastle, which is the earliest known evidence of farming in Ireland.The highest point in County Mayo and in the province of Connacht is Mweelrea at 814 m above sea level and Ireland's largest island, Achill Island, lies off Mayo's west coast. County Mayo also has Ireland's highest cliffs at Croaghaun and they are also the 3rd highest in Europe.