The village of Killala is nestled in the bay. Its deep waters attracts fishermen looking for salmon, sea trout or hake. Boats are available at Killala harbour for hire and to compliment a fishing holiday, the Sea Angling Festival is held every year in August.
For those who wish to stay on land and forage, the sheltered parts of the bay are home to an abundance of cockles. Ross beach with its Blue award is close to Killala village and is a great location for swimming and water sports. The more adventurous surfer can relish the waves at Lacken Strand, situated further west along the bay. The area is a mini-paradise for avid birdwatchers as cormorants, gulls, brent geese and ducks are among the wild birds inhabiting the shores of Killala Bay and seals often appear on Bartra Island.
Killala Bay has a long history of shipwrecks as well as landings. One of the earliest recorded shipwrecks involves a cargo ship, the ‘East Indiaman’ which struck the sandbar as it entered the bay in 1709. The ‘Earl of Caithness’ capsized in Killala Bay during the ‘big wind’ on 6th January 1839. While the five crewmen were rescued, their cargo load of salt was lost. During the same week, the Belfast ship known as ‘Wellington’ was driven onto rocks by the high winds and the crew managed to walk to the safety of the shore. Killala played an important role in the famous 1798 Irish Rebellion. General Humbert and over 1,000 of his men landed in Killala Bay and successfully took the British garrisons at Killala, Ballina and Castlebar. 1798 became later known as ‘The Year of the French’, and consequently Killala has been filmed in a TV series of the same name.
Historical buildings are dotted along the bay, including the 12th century round tower, a Franciscan friary known as ‘Rosserk Abbey’ which was founded in 1400 AD,
Moyne Abbey
, Rathfran Abbey (a Dominican Priory dated 1274 AD), Meelick Castle, and Humbert’s Rock.