“For me, it’s the best place in the world.”
The hugely successful Wild Atlantic Way campaign has helped showcase the beauty of the west of Ireland to a wider audience and authorities in Mayo are seeking to hammer home the appeal of visiting the county over the summer months.
This week saw the release of Between the Wind and the Waves, the first of five short adventure films by mayo.ie which seek to showcase adventure sports and tourism in Mayo, which will be released throughout the year on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
The star of the first film is French kitesurfer Francois Colussi, who brought his Pure Magic kitesurfing team to Achill in 2006 and has remained there ever since.
In the film, which features stunning shots of Achill Island and the Atlantic Ocean, Francois discusses his experiences in Ireland and the natural relationship between kitesurfing and the Atlantic Ocean.
Clip via Cut Media
“There is something special about the West of Ireland and Achill Island,” Francois says.
“Mayo is one of the best places in the world for kite-surfing but there is more than that. The people, the landscape, the culture and way of life; I have travelled the world and have yet to find something so magnificent. This film captures the real magic of Achill and Mayo.”
The films have been produced by Glasgow-based creative video agency Cut Media, who have been responsible for a number of viral hits, including Danny MacAskill: The Ridge, which is approaching 51 million views on YouTube.
Clip via Cut Media
The second film in the series will be released on June 6 and features Mayo GAA stars Lee Keegan, Aidan O’Shea and Colm Boyle taking a road trip along the Wild Atlantic Way.
A third film, meanwhile, due for release on June 20, focuses on world triathlon medallist Con Doherty training in his native county while describing how the landscape shaped him.
Commenting ahead of the film release, Joanne Grehan, Director of Services at Mayo County Council said: “Mayo is home to outstanding landscapes and the most welcoming people in Ireland, combined with truly immersive tourism experiences.
“The county is the ideal location to visit in Ireland for adventure and fun. The films were produced by Mayo.ie and Cut Media to portray the very essence of Mayo and its very many people, places and parts, and they certainly do that.”
For more information, check out mayo.ie/visit.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
