The ancient pilgrim path, the Tochar Phadraig, was built around AD350, before the arrival of St Patrick. It was the main route from Cruachhan, the seat of the kings of Connacht, to Mayo's holy mountain, Croagh Patrick.
Today, from Balla to Murrisk, over 8,000 people live in rural communities that straddle this historic route. They not only have a common history of rural decline and depopulation, but each community is also steeped in a rich spiritual heritage.
The Tochar Valley Rural Community Network is determined to arrest further decline by fostering this heritage as a niche, high-quality agri-tourism product.
Ballintubber Tourism Co-Op's recent achievement of national runner-up in the 1998 AIB and Farmers' Journal Agri-Tourism awards was celebrated by all the communities in the Network. They readily acknowledge their debt to the creative genius and indefatigable work of Father Frank Fahey who, with the aid of a FAS scheme, published a booklet on the history and folklore of the Tochar in 1989.
This was complemented by the erection of stiles and route-markers which involved the co-operation of 65 landowners. Approximately 1,200 pilgrims walk the Tochar each year.
Ms Maria Heneghan, an agri-tourism specialist, is very impressed by the Tochar model. "They are using an innovative approach," she says, "by using the special spirituality of the place."
In AD668 St Colman founded a monastery on the site of what became Mayo Abbey. During famine times, the stones were used to build a new church.
The people of Mayo Abbey have carried out a feasibility study, and plans are now in place to restore their abbey. Last summer Mayo Abbey Resource Development Company ran an exhibition and workshop in the famine church.
In nearby Carnacon it is planned to restore Moorehall, once the stately home of the author George Moore. From the round towers of Balla and Aghagower to the famine cottage at Belcarra, the Tochar Valley is a vibrant monument.
The Network team of Mr Terry Gallagher of Ballintubber Tourism Co-Op, Sister Maureen Lally of Teagasc and Mr Morgan Nee, South Mayo leader, is very encouraged by the response of the communities involved.
They are acutely aware of the need to provide more tourist accommodation. While day-trippers are always more than welcome, further rural decline will be arrested only if visitors have the opportunity to stay in the area.