town information mayo

Located 2km from the town off the Kilkelly road, you will find an example of a "clumped village". This village formation was due to the population rise during the period 1800 to 1841. The area was subdivided into smaller plots where the people tried to sustain a living. These villages suffered drastically during the famine of 1845-1849. Renovations are currently underway to restore parts of the village to its original state....

The captivating Mall, where the re-routed Carrowbeg river flows through Westport on its way to the sea in Clew Bay, is a splendid example of the contributions made to Irish towns by enlightened landlords of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In this instance, it was the Brownes, later Earls of Altamont, who beautified Westport in many ways and ultimately opened up their own home, Westport House, for public view....

Clare Island is a charming island of 16 sq km at the mouth of Clew Bay. The quartzite hills on the north-west rise to 461m in the peak of Knockmore, with some flat land of the east and south. Its early archaeological remains include a court-tomb at Lecarrow, ancient cooking-sites, standing-stones, promontory forts and other sites from later times. One of the most interesting places is the remains of the late fifteenth century Cistercian friary, which was originally founded by monks from Abbeykno...