| County Mayo |
| Wesport and around |
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most beautiful town of the county, Westport has been designed by James
Wyatt, a famous 18th-century architect. Westport actually has two
parts: the town itself and and Westport Quay which is located on the
bay. |
Accommodation_Mayo
Westport House & Country Park (call 25430 for information or
visit www.westporthouse.ie) is an elegant country estate, amongst the
most beautiful of the country. This stately home was built by James
Wyatt in 1730. The Octagon Monument was erected in 1845 and dedicated
to a local banker names George Clendening. The Clew Bay Heritage Centre
(call 26852 for information) displays local artefacts and documents in
what is a quite interesting exhibition.
A few pubs |
worth a visit are Matt Molloy’s on Bridge St, a warm pub
owned by Matt Molloy from the Chieftains ; and Conways on the same
street, again an old-style pub with regular traditional music nights.
To the Southwest of Westport, Croagh Patrick is the 765m mountain from
the top of which St Patrick expulsed the serpents out of Ireland. On
Reek Sunday, which is the last in July, thousands of pilgrims climb to
the top of the holy mountain, barefoot. You will notice in the village
of Murrisk a metal sculpture in the shape of a sailing ship, covered in
skeletons. This monument is dedicated to the Famine, which greatly
affected Mayo. Louisburgh is a great spot if you are looking for fine
beaches or spots for surfing or practising water sports. The amazing
Doolough Valley has an ever-changing landscape enhanced by Doo Lough
and the Mweelrea Mountains.
CLARE ISLAND is a mountainous island dominated by Mt Knockmore at 461m.
Clare Island Abbey and Granuaile’s Castle are both Cistercian ruins.
The sandy beaches of the island are perfectly safe.
INISHTURK ISLAND is not much visited although it has great beaches,
flora and fauna. NEWPORT, a small town on the River Newport, is a great
base for fishing in the surrounding area (in the loughs and in Clew
Bay). For a nice walk, take the now pedestrian seven-arch viaduct which
runs over the town. On the road from Newport to Achill Island,
interesting sites include 15th-century Burrishoole Abbey and Rockfleet
Castle as well as the Curraun Peninsula and the village of Mulrany.
Linked to the mainland by a bridge, ACHILL ISLAND is the largest
off-shore island of the country. At the foot of Slievemore Mountain is
a deserted village, as its inhabitants had to leave during the Famine
and move closer to the sea. Most of them settled in Dooagh. The beaches
of the island are sandy and lovely. The most popular activities on
Achill Island are walking, sea-angling, diving as well as other
watersports, rock climbing and hang-gliding. The festival of Irish
music and culture Scoil Acla is a great venue in August.
Irish-speaking MULLET PENINSULA is an unspoilt place not much visited.
With a low population, the island is nearly deserted and pristine.
Bellmullet is the main ‘town’ of the peninsula. Blacksod Point and
Doonamo Point have breathtaking views and interesting forts. The Céide
Fields at BALLYCASTLE is a large museum which will take to past times
(5,500 years ago). Supposedly founded by St Patrick, KILLALA has
historical connections. Rathfran Abbey is a Dominican friary which
dates back to the 13th century. Moyne Abbey is a Franciscan
construction. In a field on the road stands the Breastagh Ogham Stone,
still in good condition but it proves hard to read the Ogham script.
BALLINA is the largest town of county Mayo, however there is not much
to do and see there. It is a popular base for fishing though and has a
few interesting sites such as Rosserk Abbey, a 15th-century Franciscan
abbey. The building is extraordinary well-preserved. The North Mayo
Sculpture Trail is a project consisting of 15 outdoor sculptures which
are displayed along the R314 road from Ballina to Blacksod Point. There
are around 60 pubs in Ballina, most of them with traditional music on.
Although you might find they have some interesting sites, the towns or
Crossmolina and Castlebarhave not much to offer to the visitor. KNOCK,
on the contrary, is the Irish Lourdes or Fatima. The end of the 19th
century saw apparitions and a series of Vatican-approved miracles.
Nowadays, Knock attracts great numbers of pilgrims. It is in the Church
of the Apparition that two young women from the village say Mary,
Joseph and St-John the evangelist, an allegation backep up by 13
witnesses. |
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