County Mayo information

County Mayo located on the west coast of Ireland is the third largest county in Ireland and is often overlooked by tourists. While it may not have the dramatic scenery of County Kerry, or the fame of Connemara or The Burren, it has it own special charm. It has wilderness in abundance; it's emptiness is indeed quite special. Perhaps one of the best reasons to come here is that few other people do!

County Mayo has some wonderful restaurants. The fresh water lakes of Lough Mask and Lough Conn provide the best in fresh fish, including brown trout, eels, pike and perch. The River Moy to the north near Ballina is renown for its salmon stock. The mountain ranges of Mayo provide some excellent lamb. Given the remoteness of some parts of the county, game is in abundance, including pheasant, snipe, partridge and wild duck. All of which make for the very best in ingredients for the many local and ethnic restaurants dotted all around the county.

Image: Ashford Castle, County Mayo

Towns

Below you will find a list of towns within County Mayo. If a Further information link is available, please click on it to find detailed information including accommodation, restaurants, bars, pubs, shops and more...

Ballina - a small cultural town in the north of the county - Further information

Ballyhaunis - a south Mayo town with many traditional areas and a rural community.

Castlebar - the largest town and market centre of the county.

Claremorris - gateway town between Mayo and Galway.

Charlestown

Cong - beautiful little village where John Ford's famous film The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, was filmed. The Quiet Man Heritage Cottage, a reconstruction, is open only part of the year. Pat Cohan's Pub from the film is also there. River Cafe is a good place for lunch or desserts.

Foxford - Home of the "Foxford Goat Fair" and another famous fishing village located on the River Moy.

Killala - A historic town where the French landed in 1798 led by General Humbert. This little village in north Mayo celebrates the French-Irish rebellion of 1798 each year.

Knock - Located at the "Ireland-West international Airport" and the world famous catholic shrine of our lady.

Mulranny

Newport

Westport - Generations of Irish men and women have travelled to Westport to climb the local mountain "Croch Patrick" or visit the local Zoo in Westport. A small tourist town with many old homes and buildings dating back hundreds of years.

Places to see

Achill Island - Further information

Céide Fields - Further information

Louisburgh - Further information

Ashford Castle - a medieval castle that has been expanded over the centuries and turned into a five star luxury hotel near Cong on the Mayo-Galway border, on the shore of Lough Corrib in Ireland. It is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World organisation and was previously owned by the Guinness family - Visit website

Ballintubber Abbey - an abbey two kilometres northeast of the village of Ballintubber, County Mayo in Ireland that was founded by King Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair in 1216. It is rumoured to be the only church in Ireland founded by an Irish king that is still in regular use.

Blacksod Lighthouse - situated at the southern end of the Mullet Peninsula, Erris, County Mayo. The lighthouse was built in 1864 by one of the leading merchants in Belmullet at that time, Bryan Carey.

Broadhaven Bay

Burrishoole Abbey

Clare Island - a mountainous island guarding the entrance to Clew Bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It is famous as the home of the pirate queen, Gráinne O'Malley. Approximately 145 people live there today.

Clew Bay

Croagh Patrick - nicknamed the Reek it is a 764 metres (2,507 ft) mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo in Ireland. It is 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Westport, above the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey. It is the third highest mountain in County Mayo after Mweelrea and Nephin. It is climbed by pilgrims on Reek Sunday every year, which is the last Sunday in July.

Eagle Island Lighthouse

Erris - a barony in northwestern County Mayo in Ireland consisting of over 210,000 acres (850 km2), much of which is mountainous blanket bog.

Faulagh

Joyce Country

Lough Mask

Knock Shrine

Mayo Peace Park

Moore Hall

Mullet Peninsula

Museum of Country Life

Partry Mountains

Rockfleet Castle - or Carrickahowley Castle is a tower house near Newport in County Mayo, Ireland. It was built in the mid-sixteenth century, and is most famously associated with Gráinne O'Malley, the pirate queen and chieftain of the clan O’Malley.

Westport House - designed by the famous architects Richard Cassels and James Wyatt in the 18th century, Westport House is considered one of Ireland's most beautiful historic homes open to the public. Westport House is situated in an impressive parkland setting with a lake, terraces, gardens and magnificent views overlooking Clew Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, Achill, Clare Island and Ireland's Holy Mountain, Croagh Patrick.

Recommended accommodation in County Mayo

Ashford Castle, Cong, Co Mayo - Voted the world's best hotel in August 2015, the five star Ashford Castle is an ultra welcoming resort with a friendly, homely feel, stunning views over the gardens and lakes and super luxurious rooms. This really is a gem! - Visit website - Book now

Knockranny House, Westport - Family owned and run, Knockranny House Hotel & Spa is one of Ireland’s finest 4* hotels. Set in secluded grounds on a hillside, this luxury hotel stands proudly overlooking the picturesque town of Westport and enjoys breathtaking views of Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay’s islands to the west and the Nephin Mountains to the north - Visit website

Mulranny Park Hotel, Mulranny, Westport - You will find the four star Mulranny Park Hotel perched on a unique site overlooking Clew Bay & Croagh Patrick Mountain beyond. They are the only hotel located on the Great Western Greenway in the most scenic section of the route and the perfect walking holiday base - Visit website

Stella Maris, Ballycastle - Located along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, Stella Maris Country House Hotel provides unsurpassed views of the magnificent Atlantic Ocean, mesmerizing Downpatrick Head and the gorgeous countryside of Ballycastle in County Mayo - Visit website - Book now

Bervie, Keel, Achill Island - Bervie guest accommodation is a wonderfully restored coastguard station on Achill Island, off the west coast of Ireland in the County of Mayo. It is situated on the south-facing beach at Keel Strand, and has stunning unbroken views across kilometers of unpolluted golden sand, overlooking the majestic Cathedral Cliffs of Minaun, with the islands of Clew bay on the horizon - View website

Léim Siar, Blacksod, Belmullet - Set in the spectacular surroundings of Blacksod Bay, the area The Irish Times voted the best place to go wild in Ireland, Léim Siar is Fáilte Ireland approved and recommended in John and Sally McKennas' Guides - Visit website - Book now