Westport, County Mayo
Encyclopedia
Westport is a town in County Mayo
, Ireland
. It is situated on the west coast at the south-east corner of Clew Bay
, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean
.
Westport has a town centre designed by James Wyatt
in 1780, in the Georgian architectural style
. Its layout follows the medieval principles of urban design introduced by the Normans
in the 13th century. The design for the town was commissioned by the Lord Sligo
of the nearby stately home, Westport House
, as a place for his workers and tenants to live. A particular feature is the incorporation of the river into the composition, contained for two blocks by low stone walls producing, on each side of the river, attractive tree lined promenades (The Mall) with several stone bridges over the river Carrow Beg. The layout further includes several tree lined streets, addressed by the narrow fronted commercial buildings typical of Irish towns, though with many here remaining of a singular refinement and charm. Some modern interventions, such as the Garda station, are less successful in maintaining the original continuity of the urban fabric.
It was a residence of the pirate chief, Gráinne Ní Mháille, in the mid-to-late 16th century.
The famous pilgrimage mountain of Croagh Patrick
, known locally as "the Reek" lies some 10 km west of the town near the villages of Murrisk
and Lecanvey
. The mountain presents a striking backdrop to the town. The church on the summit can just be made out with the naked eye from Westport.
Westport is a popular tourist destination and has won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition
three times in 2001, 2006 and 2008.
Clan
, who controlled the Clew Bay area, then known as Umaill
.
The original village of Cathair na Mart existed somewhere around what is now the front (East) lawn of Westport House. It had a high street, alleys down to the river and a population of around 700. It was moved to its present site in the 1780s by the Browne family of Westport House, who also renamed it Westport.
Westport is designated as a heritage town and is unusual in Ireland in that it is one of only a few planned towns in the country. The design of the town is attributed to James Wyatt
, a famous English architect. He also completed Westport House
, the stately home of the Marquess of Sligo
and designed its dining room. Westport House had originally been built by Richard Cassels
, the German architect, in the 1730s, on the site of the original Ó Máille Castle. The dungeons of the Ó Máille castle still remain. The most notable feature of James Wyatt
's town plan is the lovely tree-lined boulevard, the Mall, built on the Carrowbeg River.
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. It was built and is still privately owned by the Browne family, who are direct descendants of the 16th century pirate, Gráinne Ní Mháille, Queen of Umaill
.
During the 16th century, Gráinne Ní Mháille a leading Gaelic
-Irish
chief in Connaught. After her death, a report—by Sir Richard Bingham, Governor of Connacht—stated that for forty years she was the stay of all rebellions in the West. She was chief of the O'Malley Clan and ruled the seas around Mayo. Ní Mháille had several castles in the west of Ireland and it was on the foundations of one of these that Westport House was built. There is still an area of her original castle in the basement of the House (the Dungeons), which is on view to visitors.
There is a bronze statue of Ní Mháille by the artist Michael Cooper situated on the grounds of Westport House.
The original House was built by Colonel John Browne, a Jacobite, who was at the Siege of Limerick, and his wife Maude Bourke. Maude Bourke was Ní Mháille’s great-great granddaughter (reported by Anne Chambers to greatly resemble her). The House then did not have the lake or a dam and the tide rose and fell against the walls.
the population made up of persons from the UK (4%), other EU countries (5%) and the rest of the world
(3%) (with 1% not stated). This is more or less on a par with national figures.
Westport Town Council consists of nine members who are elected every five years by local electors (persons whose names are in the Register of Electors). Any person of 18 years and over is eligible to register and to vote at elections. Council members are elected according to a system of proportional representation. The next local elections will be held in 2014. Each year the Council elects a Cathaoirleach at its Annual Meeting which is held in May or June.
Matt Molloy
of the Chieftains
has a vibrant musical pub on Bridge Street at the heart of the town.
, founded in 1892. There are also copies of the Mayo Advertiser delivered door to door to houses in the area, as well as being available in many businesses around the town. Other local papers widely available are the Western People and the Connaught Telegraph.
In 1842, the English novelist, William Makepeace Thackeray
, visited Westport and wrote of the town:
"The most beautiful view I ever saw in the World. It forms an event in one's life to have seen that place so beautiful that is it, and so unlike other beauties that I know of. Were such beauties lying on English shores it would be a World's wonder perhaps, if it were on the Mediterranean or Baltic, English travellers would flock to it by hundreds, why not come and see it in Ireland!"
Visitors visit Westport for several reasons: the scenery; the pubs and restaurants in the town; blue flag beaches; and Croagh Patrick. Its proximity to Connemara
, Achill, Clew Bay
and Croagh Patrick
, and its hotels and guest houses, make it a base for holidaymakers to tour the region.
Westport is also well known for sea-angling, and freshwater fishing is popular on nearby Loughs Mask and Carra, and on the Eriff river. Westport House
and its Pirate Adventure Park attracts families, many of whom stay at the caravan and camping park which belongs to Westport House. Westport has an 18-hole golf course. A nearby 9-hole course has an attached guest accommodation.
In January 2008, Westport became Google Earth
's first fully 3D town,
Westport also has a partnership with the town of Aror
in Kenya
, and the people of Westport have contributed to improving the infrastructure of Aror
.
Westport has three secondary schools and four primary schools, and Westport College of Further Education
that opened in 2009.
of a 250 km railway route
from the capital, Dublin, which serves the town and surrounding area. This railway also serves the county town, Castlebar
, about 18 km east-north-east of Westport. Westport railway station
opened on 28 January 1866. The line originally ran through to Westport Quay station (opened on 1 January 1875 and closed in April 1977). This line was lifted overnight in 1977 by Córas Iompair Éireann
(CIE). In order to pacify local concern, the bulk of the trackbed of this extension was converted to a public walkway, still open today. There was also a branch to Achill Island
branching off after the station, but this closed in 1937.
rail trail
that follows the route of the former Midland Great Western Railway
branch line to Achill, via Newport
and Mulranny
.
also connects the town to Castlebar, as well as connecting to the N4 near Longford
that leads onward to Dublin. The other major road passing through Westport is the N59 secondary route, which rambles around the West of Ireland both to the north and south of the town.
, 60 km (37.3 mi) away with Scheduled flights departing daily to the United Kingdom
and Galway Airport
, with daily flights to the rest of the nation, France
, and the United Kingdom
.
Clew Bay itself is an internationally recognised sea angling centre hosting many sea fishing competitions each year and it is renowned for being the best venue for common skate fishing in the country and holds the Irish record for a 160 lb white skate. It is also considered one of the best venues for tope, huss and ray.
club, CLG Chathair na Mart, have a long history going back to the nineteenth century. Gaelic football
is the main sport played within the club. They are the current holders of the Mayo Intermediate Football title.
in 2002.
club was founded in 1911. Westport United won the FAI Junior Cup in 2005 in front of 2,000 supporters in Kilkenny
and play their home matches in the Sports Park; matches are advertised on the local press. The club colours are red and black.
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is situated on the west coast at the south-east corner of Clew Bay
Clew Bay
Clew Bay is a natural ocean bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It contains Ireland's best example of sunken drumlins. According to tradition, there is an island in the bay for every day of the year. The bay is overlooked by Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain, and the mountains of North Mayo. Clare...
, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Westport has a town centre designed by James Wyatt
James Wyatt
James Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
in 1780, in the Georgian architectural style
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
. Its layout follows the medieval principles of urban design introduced by the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
in the 13th century. The design for the town was commissioned by the Lord Sligo
Marquess of Sligo
Marquess of Sligo is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1800 for John Browne, 3rd Earl of Altamont. The Marquess holds the subsidiary titles of Baron Mount Eagle, of Westport in the County of Mayo , Viscount Westport, of Westport in the County of Mayo , Earl of Altamont, in the...
of the nearby stately home, Westport House
Westport House
Westport House in Westport, Ireland is the stately home of Lord Altamont the Marquess of Sligo. It was built by the Browne family in the 18th Century, on the site of an O'Malley castle whose dungeons are still present today...
, as a place for his workers and tenants to live. A particular feature is the incorporation of the river into the composition, contained for two blocks by low stone walls producing, on each side of the river, attractive tree lined promenades (The Mall) with several stone bridges over the river Carrow Beg. The layout further includes several tree lined streets, addressed by the narrow fronted commercial buildings typical of Irish towns, though with many here remaining of a singular refinement and charm. Some modern interventions, such as the Garda station, are less successful in maintaining the original continuity of the urban fabric.
It was a residence of the pirate chief, Gráinne Ní Mháille, in the mid-to-late 16th century.
The famous pilgrimage mountain of Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick , nicknamed the Reek, is a tall mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. It is from Westport, above the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey. It is the third highest mountain in County Mayo after Mweelrea and Nephin. On "Reek Sunday", the last...
, known locally as "the Reek" lies some 10 km west of the town near the villages of Murrisk
Murrisk
Murrisk is one of the Baronial divisions of County Mayo and also a village in County Mayo, Ireland, on the south side of Clew Bay, about 8 km west of Westport and 4 km east of Lecanvey....
and Lecanvey
Lecanvey
Lecanvey or Leckanvy is a seaside village in County Mayo, Ireland, between Westport and Louisburgh, about 2 km west of Murrisk. It has a small beach with Lecanvey Pier. To the south is Croagh Patrick...
. The mountain presents a striking backdrop to the town. The church on the summit can just be made out with the naked eye from Westport.
Westport is a popular tourist destination and has won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition
Irish Tidy Towns Competition
Tidy Towns is an annual competition, first held in 1958, organised by the Irish Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in order to honour the tidiest and most attractive cities, towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland...
three times in 2001, 2006 and 2008.
History
Westport originates and gets its name, in Irish, from a 16th century castle--Cathair na Mart (meaning: The Stone Fort of the Beeves or The City of The Fairs)--and surrounding settlement, belonging to the powerful local sea faring Ó MáilleO'Malley
O'Malley may refer to:* Charles O'Malley, an eponymous character in a novel by Charles Lever.* O'Malley , people with the surname O'Malley* Ó Máille clan, an Irish clan name anglicized as O'Malley...
Clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
, who controlled the Clew Bay area, then known as Umaill
Umaill
Umaill was a kingdom or territory located in the west of what is now County Mayo, Ireland. It comprmised of the baronies of Burrishoole and Murrisk, essentially all the land adjacent to Clew Bay.-Description:...
.
The original village of Cathair na Mart existed somewhere around what is now the front (East) lawn of Westport House. It had a high street, alleys down to the river and a population of around 700. It was moved to its present site in the 1780s by the Browne family of Westport House, who also renamed it Westport.
Westport is designated as a heritage town and is unusual in Ireland in that it is one of only a few planned towns in the country. The design of the town is attributed to James Wyatt
James Wyatt
James Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
, a famous English architect. He also completed Westport House
Westport House
Westport House in Westport, Ireland is the stately home of Lord Altamont the Marquess of Sligo. It was built by the Browne family in the 18th Century, on the site of an O'Malley castle whose dungeons are still present today...
, the stately home of the Marquess of Sligo
Marquess of Sligo
Marquess of Sligo is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1800 for John Browne, 3rd Earl of Altamont. The Marquess holds the subsidiary titles of Baron Mount Eagle, of Westport in the County of Mayo , Viscount Westport, of Westport in the County of Mayo , Earl of Altamont, in the...
and designed its dining room. Westport House had originally been built by Richard Cassels
Richard Cassels
Richard Cassels , who anglicised his name to Richard Castle, ranks with Edward Lovett Pearce as one of the greatest architects working in Ireland in the 18th century. Cassels was born in 1690 in Kassel, Germany. Although German, his family were of French origin, descended from the...
, the German architect, in the 1730s, on the site of the original Ó Máille Castle. The dungeons of the Ó Máille castle still remain. The most notable feature of James Wyatt
James Wyatt
James Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
's town plan is the lovely tree-lined boulevard, the Mall, built on the Carrowbeg River.
Westport House
Westport House
Westport House in Westport, Ireland is the stately home of Lord Altamont the Marquess of Sligo. It was built by the Browne family in the 18th Century, on the site of an O'Malley castle whose dungeons are still present today...
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. It was built and is still privately owned by the Browne family, who are direct descendants of the 16th century pirate, Gráinne Ní Mháille, Queen of Umaill
Kings of Umaill
The Kings of Umaill were rulers of Umaill a kingdom or territory located in the west of what is now County Mayo, Ireland.Its earliest rulers were the semi-historical Tuath mhac nUmhoir. The Umaill, its early historical rulers, were renamed the Uí Briúin Umaill to claim a fictitious relationship...
.
During the 16th century, Gráinne Ní Mháille a leading Gaelic
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
-Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
chief in Connaught. After her death, a report—by Sir Richard Bingham, Governor of Connacht—stated that for forty years she was the stay of all rebellions in the West. She was chief of the O'Malley Clan and ruled the seas around Mayo. Ní Mháille had several castles in the west of Ireland and it was on the foundations of one of these that Westport House was built. There is still an area of her original castle in the basement of the House (the Dungeons), which is on view to visitors.
There is a bronze statue of Ní Mháille by the artist Michael Cooper situated on the grounds of Westport House.
The original House was built by Colonel John Browne, a Jacobite, who was at the Siege of Limerick, and his wife Maude Bourke. Maude Bourke was Ní Mháille’s great-great granddaughter (reported by Anne Chambers to greatly resemble her). The House then did not have the lake or a dam and the tide rose and fell against the walls.
Population
The population of Westport (including environs) was identified as 5,475 persons in the last census (2006). This was an increase of 19% over the 10-year period 1996-2006.Age
Currently 20% of the population of Westport is under 20 years of age. A further 20% are 65 years and over. The average age of the population of Westport is 40 years of age, higher than that of the national figure of 35.6 years.Nationality
The majority of people living in Westport are Irish (87%) with the remainder (13%) ofthe population made up of persons from the UK (4%), other EU countries (5%) and the rest of the world
(3%) (with 1% not stated). This is more or less on a par with national figures.
Religious affiliation
The vast majority of people living in Westport are Roman Catholics. Of the 5,475 population 4,777(87.25%) identified themselves as Catholics in the 2006 census; 377(6.88%) were of 'other religions'; 253(4.62%) were of 'no religion' and 68(1.24%) 'not stated'.Westport Town Council
Culture
People from Westport town are traditionally known as Coveys. Some decades ago the Covey dialect still existed and was unintelligible to outsiders. For example the Covey word for a woman was a "doner". To this day inhabitants of nearby areas, including Castlebar, refer to the people of Westport, sometimes mildly disparagingly, sometimes somewhat affectionately, as Coveys.Matt Molloy
Matt Molloy
Matt Molloy is an Irish musician, from a region known for producing talented flautists. As a child, he began playing the flute and won the All-Ireland Flute Championship at only seventeen years old...
of the Chieftains
The Chieftains
The Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1962, best known for being one of the first bands to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.-Name:...
has a vibrant musical pub on Bridge Street at the heart of the town.
Westport through the year
Several festivals are held in and around Westport each year.- The Westport Horse & Pony Show is held on the first weekend in June.
- The Sea Angling Festival is held annually in the third or fourth week in June. This is internationally acclaimed and in existence for over 42 years, attracting sea anglers from all over the world.
- The annual Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage is held annually on the last Sunday in July.
- The Westport Arts Festival is held in the first week of October. This is a festival of arts, music and literature. The Westport music festival has been revived in recent years. This five day event will now run annually in July at the Fairgreen. It began July 18, 2006.
- The Westport Seafood Festival is held on the October Bank Holiday weekend.
- The Westport Wellness Week Festival is also now growing in popularity and was last held in the last week of February 2007.
Media
Westport has a regional newspaper based in the town, the Mayo NewsMayo News
The Mayo News is a weekly local newspaper published in Westport in the Republic of Ireland. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, the paper had an average weekly circulation of 10,315 during 2005...
, founded in 1892. There are also copies of the Mayo Advertiser delivered door to door to houses in the area, as well as being available in many businesses around the town. Other local papers widely available are the Western People and the Connaught Telegraph.
Tourism
Westport is County Mayo's premier tourist destination, popular with holiday makers from all over the World and Ireland, it is considered one of the liveliest and most charming towns in the West of Ireland.In 1842, the English novelist, William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.-Biography:...
, visited Westport and wrote of the town:
"The most beautiful view I ever saw in the World. It forms an event in one's life to have seen that place so beautiful that is it, and so unlike other beauties that I know of. Were such beauties lying on English shores it would be a World's wonder perhaps, if it were on the Mediterranean or Baltic, English travellers would flock to it by hundreds, why not come and see it in Ireland!"
Visitors visit Westport for several reasons: the scenery; the pubs and restaurants in the town; blue flag beaches; and Croagh Patrick. Its proximity to Connemara
Connemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
, Achill, Clew Bay
Clew Bay
Clew Bay is a natural ocean bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It contains Ireland's best example of sunken drumlins. According to tradition, there is an island in the bay for every day of the year. The bay is overlooked by Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain, and the mountains of North Mayo. Clare...
and Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick
Croagh Patrick , nicknamed the Reek, is a tall mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. It is from Westport, above the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey. It is the third highest mountain in County Mayo after Mweelrea and Nephin. On "Reek Sunday", the last...
, and its hotels and guest houses, make it a base for holidaymakers to tour the region.
Westport is also well known for sea-angling, and freshwater fishing is popular on nearby Loughs Mask and Carra, and on the Eriff river. Westport House
Westport House
Westport House in Westport, Ireland is the stately home of Lord Altamont the Marquess of Sligo. It was built by the Browne family in the 18th Century, on the site of an O'Malley castle whose dungeons are still present today...
and its Pirate Adventure Park attracts families, many of whom stay at the caravan and camping park which belongs to Westport House. Westport has an 18-hole golf course. A nearby 9-hole course has an attached guest accommodation.
In January 2008, Westport became Google Earth
Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
's first fully 3D town,
International ties
Westport is twinned with two towns:- Plougastel Daoulas in the département of FinistèreFinistèreFinistère is a département of France, in the extreme west of Brittany.-History:The name Finistère derives from the Latin Finis Terræ, meaning end of the earth, and may be compared with Land's End on the opposite side of the English Channel...
in western BrittanyBrittanyBrittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
. Schoolchildren from the two towns regularly exchange visits. - LimavadyLimavadyLimavady is a market town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Binevenagh as a backdrop. It lies east of Derry and south west of Coleraine. It had a population of 12,135 people in the 2001 Census, an increase of some 17% compared to 1991...
, County LondonderryCounty LondonderryThe place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, Northern IrelandNorthern IrelandNorthern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Links between the two towns have their roots in the 1980s and the official ratification and twinning ceremony took place in 2002.
Westport also has a partnership with the town of Aror
Aror, Kenya
Aror is a small rural town in Kenya.The town has suffered from famine, Aror is twinned with Westport in the Republic of Ireland, the people of Westport often donate money to the people of Aror to help with infrastructure....
in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, and the people of Westport have contributed to improving the infrastructure of Aror
Aror, Kenya
Aror is a small rural town in Kenya.The town has suffered from famine, Aror is twinned with Westport in the Republic of Ireland, the people of Westport often donate money to the people of Aror to help with infrastructure....
.
Religion and education
- There are three churches in the town: the Catholic Church, St Mary's; the AnglicanChurch of IrelandThe Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
church, Holy Trinity; and the Evangelical church, Calvary Church Westport. - Historically, a MethodistMethodismMethodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
church on existed on the Mall, but it has not been used for some years. It was renovated a few years ago and is currently a restaurant. - Religious genealogical records for the 19th century for the Westport area (Church of Ireland, Methodist, Roman Catholic, civil, gravestone inscriptions, etc.) are held at the South Mayo Family Research Centre in Ballinrobe and The Clew Bay Heritage Centre at Westport Quay.
Westport has three secondary schools and four primary schools, and Westport College of Further Education
Westport College of Further Education
Westport College of Further Education , in Westport, Ireland, opened in September 2009 specialising in Post Leaving Certificate Courses. PLC courses are FETAC certified, and successful completion of our courses will place graduates at Level 5 or level 6 of the National Qualifications Framework...
that opened in 2009.
Rail
The town is the terminusTerminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
of a 250 km railway route
Rail transport in Ireland
Rail services in Ireland are provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.Most routes in the Republic radiate from Dublin...
from the capital, Dublin, which serves the town and surrounding area. This railway also serves the county town, Castlebar
Castlebar
Castlebar is the county town of, and at the centre of, County Mayo in Ireland. It is Mayo's largest town by population. The town's population exploded in the late 1990s, increasing by one-third in just six years, though this massive growth has slowed down greatly in recent years...
, about 18 km east-north-east of Westport. Westport railway station
Westport railway station
Westport railway station serves the town of Westport, County Mayo, Ireland.The station opened on 28 January 1866....
opened on 28 January 1866. The line originally ran through to Westport Quay station (opened on 1 January 1875 and closed in April 1977). This line was lifted overnight in 1977 by Córas Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann , or CIÉ, is a statutory corporation of the Irish state, answerable to the Irish Government and responsible for most public transport in the Republic of Ireland and, jointly with its Northern Ireland counterpart, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, between the...
(CIE). In order to pacify local concern, the bulk of the trackbed of this extension was converted to a public walkway, still open today. There was also a branch to Achill Island
Achill Island
Achill Island in County Mayo is the largest island off the coast of Ireland, and is situated off the west coast. It has a population of 2,700. Its area is . Achill is attached to the mainland by Michael Davitt Bridge, between the villages of Gob an Choire and Poll Raithní . A bridge was first...
branching off after the station, but this closed in 1937.
Bicycle
The Great Western Greenway is a greenwayGreenway (landscape)
A greenway is a long, narrow piece of land, often used for recreation and pedestrian and bicycle user traffic, and sometimes for streetcar, light rail or retail uses.- Terminology :...
rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
that follows the route of the former Midland Great Western Railway
Midland Great Western Railway
The Midland Great Western Railway was the third largest Irish gauge railway company in Ireland. It was incorporated in 1845 and absorbed into the Great Southern Railway in 1924. It served part of Leinster, County Cavan in Ulster and much of Connaught...
branch line to Achill, via Newport
Newport, County Mayo
Newport, historically known as Ballyveaghan , is a small picturesque town in the Barony of Burrishoole County Mayo, Ireland with a population of 590 in 2006. It is located on the west coast of Ireland, along the shore of Clew Bay, north of Westport. The N59 road passes through the town. The...
and Mulranny
Mulranny
Mallaranny —sometimes spelt as Malaranny, Mullaranny, Mullranny or Mulranny—is a seaside village on the isthmus between Clew Bay and Blacksod Bay in County Mayo, Ireland. Mallaranny is the home of colourful giant fuchsias and exotic plants...
.
Road
The N5 national primary routeRoads in Ireland
The island of Ireland, comprising Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, has an extensive network of tens of thousands of kilometres of public roads, usually surfaced. These roads have been developed and modernised over centuries, from trackways suitable only for walkers and horses, to...
also connects the town to Castlebar, as well as connecting to the N4 near Longford
Longford
Longford is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It has a population of 7,622 according to the 2006 census. Approximately one third of the county's population resides in the town. Longford town is also the biggest town in the county...
that leads onward to Dublin. The other major road passing through Westport is the N59 secondary route, which rambles around the West of Ireland both to the north and south of the town.
Air
The regional airports are Ireland West Airport KnockIreland West Airport Knock
-Ground transport:BusBus Éireann currently provide services from the Airport on the Derry-Sligo-Galway and Galway-Sligo-Derry Route 64, Ireland West Airport Knock - Castlebar - Westport - Achill Island route 440, Dublin - Athlone - Ireland West Airport Knock - Westport route 21, and connects with...
, 60 km (37.3 mi) away with Scheduled flights departing daily to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Galway Airport
Galway Airport
Galway Airport is located at Carnmore, north of Galway City, County Galway, Ireland and is managed by Corrib Airport Limited.On 31 October 2011 the airport's sole remaining operator Aer Arann ceased commercial operations at the airport...
, with daily flights to the rest of the nation, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
People
- A monument stands on the Mall in memory of Major John MacBrideJohn MacBrideMajor John MacBride was an Irish republican executed for participation in the 1916 Easter Rising.-Early life:...
. Born locally in 1865, he joined the Boer army which fought the British in the Second Boer WarSecond Boer WarThe Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, rising to the rank of major. He was executed in 1916 for his part in the Easter RisingEaster RisingThe Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
. He was the father of Sean MacBrideSeán MacBrideSeán MacBride was an Irish government minister and prominent international politician as well as a Chief of Staff of the IRA....
, the Nobel peace laureate. - Cornelius CoughlanCornelius CoughlanCornelius Coughlan VC was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:He was 28 years old, and a Colour Sergeant in the 75th Regiment of Foot , British Army...
who won the Victoria CrossVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
in the service of the British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
is buried locally. - Irish writer George A. BirminghamGeorge A. BirminghamGeorge A. Birmingham was the pen name of James Owen Hannay , Irish clergyman and prolific novelist.-Life and career:...
(real name James Hannay) was the Protestant rector in Westport for a number of years. He infamously caused a riot in the town when his successful play General John ReganGeneral John Regan (play)General John Regan is a comedy play by the Irish writer George A. Birmingham. A confidence trickster convinces a small Irish town that a statue out to be erected to one of its natives who is claimed to have led the independence movement of a South American country, closely modelled on Bernardo...
was staged there and the locals began recognising, to their disdain, that the characters were based on themselves.
The Quay
- Westport has a small adjoining port, the Quay, once busy but no longer used for commercial shipping, now a suburb notable for its many warehouse conversions.The quay is also known for its restaurants and pubs.
- It also includes the famous "point" pitch, training ground of Westport United.
- A small museum, celebrating the history of Westport and maritime history of Clew Bay, is open to the public here, the Clew Bay Heritage Centre. www.westportheritage.com
Sport
The Gaelic football club, Westport United soccer club and the Rugby club have a venerable tradition in both county and national competition. Westport, and the surrounding region, has been identified as a primary centre for adventure sports by Failte Ireland. In August it annually hosts the largest one day adventure multi-sport race of its kind in the World - Gael Force West. It is also home to horse riding; surfing; sea kayaking; wind surfing and sailing schools and other adventure sports. Sea angling has always proven a popular activity and there are angling competitions and festivals throughout the year.Angling
Westport is a very popular angling centre providing ample opportunties for sea fishing on Clew Bay and game and coarse fishing on numerous nearby loughs and rivers.Clew Bay itself is an internationally recognised sea angling centre hosting many sea fishing competitions each year and it is renowned for being the best venue for common skate fishing in the country and holds the Irish record for a 160 lb white skate. It is also considered one of the best venues for tope, huss and ray.
Gaelic games
The Westport GAAGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club, CLG Chathair na Mart, have a long history going back to the nineteenth century. Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
is the main sport played within the club. They are the current holders of the Mayo Intermediate Football title.
Golf
Westport Golf Club (championship) is currently ranked 43rd out of the top 100 golf courses in Ireland by Golf Digest. It has hosted prestigious tournaments, both the Ladies Home Internationals in 1989 and the Irish Amateur Close Championship on three occasions, most recently in 1997. It also hosted the Irish PGA ChampionshipIrish PGA Championship
The Irish PGA Championship is a golf tournament played annually in Ireland since 1907. It is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world, the oldest in the Emerald Isles, and has been played at many different golf courses in Ireland. It is the marquee event on the PGA Tour of Ireland's...
in 2002.
Soccer
The Westport UnitedWestport United
Westport United Football Club is an amateur football club in Westport, County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1911, it is the oldest football club in County Mayo and its players wear red and black stripes. Home games are played at Westport Sports Park. The club has two men's teams, one...
club was founded in 1911. Westport United won the FAI Junior Cup in 2005 in front of 2,000 supporters in Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
and play their home matches in the Sports Park; matches are advertised on the local press. The club colours are red and black.
Rugby
The Westport Bulls Rugby Club is located a few kilometres out of town close to the Golf Club. Players from ages seven to senior age participate.Sailing
The Mayo Sailing Club is located a few kilometers out of town past the Golf and Rugby Club in Rosmoney.See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland