A strange little place in the middle of nowhere, Mám Éan can be reached from three different directions. I chose to ascend from Maam (not to be confused with Maam Cross). To be honest, the word ‘ascend’ is inappropriate here, as the destination stands at a mere 260 m altitude.
Mám Éan (often anglicised as Maumeen, Mamean, etc.) is a little pilgrimage spot at a pass through the Maumturk mountains of east Connemara, roughly between Oughterard and Leenane. A visit reveals a tiny chapel, mass altar and the Stations of the Cross scattered roughly around the rocky, boggy site. I wonder is the chapel the smallest in Ireland. It’s certainly much smaller than the Costello Chapel in Carrick on Shannon, which erroneously claims the title.
Mám Éan Pass, Co. Galway
While Mám Éan (The Pass of the Birds) is quite a pleasant spot, with nice views all around, the walk up is rather disappointing. Coming from Maam, the first 5.5 km are on tarmac. As if that wasn’t tedious enough, the next 1.8 km consist of an even worse recently bulldozed sand and stone track that has been bludgeoned across what would have previously been lovely mountain bog. Only when this track eventually peters out is there any feeling of being in the mountains of Connemara (for 1.0 km). Once here, the mist, ever rolling in and out, adds to the atmosphere.
Descending the other side from Mám Éan is a more rewarding experience, on what might be termed a naturally eroded (sic) 1.7 km long track, quite like the one up the Reek. At the base of this track, you can exit the area by a narrow tarred roadway south or north (hence the three accesses referred to above). I chose to head 6.5 km north, up towards Lough Inagh, where I had left my bike earlier that day.
I walked beneath the superb Maumturk mountains on my right-hand side, with their steep western walls shining in the autumn light. Beyond, to my left and across the valley, loomed the wonderful Twelve Bens. A donkey accompanied me along for a while, like a big pointy-eared dog. He took my sandwich and my mind off the tarmac.
Shortly, I would mount the bike and cycle the long 29 km back to Maam and my car. This was tough, I have to admit. It seems that whenever I choose to walk from A to B and cycle back to A, the wind is in my face for the hardest stretch of the return journey. Like a sick joke, the winds seem to gather wherever I started out walking, loiter around and then hit me head-on like a convoy when I’m cycling back later. For good measure, they throw in some classic West of Ireland horizontal rain ….
With 73% of this walk on tarmac, it is, to misquote a well-known TV pundit, “a good walk, but not a great walk”.
Mám Éan walk
Maam to Inagh : 16.5 km, total ascent 398 m, 4.5 hours (including breaks).
Return cycle, Inagh to Maam (via Maam Cross) : 28.8 km, total ascent 242 m, 2.5 hours (including breaks).
It’s ok for some people of an age to walk over rough ground, but older people like to get an easy start. It’s not just your mountain, it’s for all the people to get and pray at the top.
Well said Dave, I agree 100%, yer man’s opinion is only that, his. Too much respect given to some of those who think they are experts.
Hi, where do you park your car if you want to do all the walk in Maumean? Looking for advice.
Hi Martina,
If you’d like to do the longer walk in to Mám Éan, as described in the article, then you can park by the bridge at Maam, across from Keane’s pub, by the junction of R336 and R345. If, on the other hand, you’d like to do the short walk up, then park at the dedicated carpark along the L5136, which is a right hand turn off the N59 between Oughterard and Clifden, heading west, marked Mám Éan. Enjoy the visit! Barry
There is something magic about that Holy Mountain. You can feel it with every step.
Yes indeed, Peter, it’s a wonderful spot alright, with the Maumturks all around and the Twelve Bens across the valley.
From the vehicle parking area, what is the distance to walk up Mam Ean? It looks as though the path is rough terrain.
How long does it take to walk up to the area of the chapel?
Hi Judith, From the carpark at the Inagh end of Mám Éan, it’s only about 1.5km up to the chapel and might take you 30-40 minutes.
Hi, is there a walk you can do if I park my car near Lough Inagh and walk towards Mamean? How long and difficult is it?
Also if I park my car at Keanes pub near bridge in Maum, how long and different would the walk to Mamean be?
Thank you
Hi Ian,
Yes, there’s a carpark opposite the boat mooring just south of Lough Inagh Lodge hotel. It’s about 8km to Mám Éan from that side, as described in the post. From Keane’s pub, it’s also about 8km, as described in the post. Both ae mostly on quiet tarmac bóithríns and neither is terribly difficult.