Information Ballinrobe Ireland
Ballinrobe has the county’s only racecourse, and it has a long tradition of horse racing even before the racecourse opened in 1921. Records going back to the 1700s are testament to this. The town also has a golf club. The town’s history dates back to 1390 and it is thought to be the oldest town in South County Mayo. A recently restored monastery in the area was mentioned in the contemporaneous Athenry Dominican friary’s registry. The Church and its associated organisations have a long history with Ballinrobe. The Mercy Order of Nuns arrived in 1851, the Christian Brothers in 1876. The town was granted a royal patent by James I in 1606, permitting the community to hold fairs and markets. The royal patent led to the town’s economic development, and until the mid twentieth century, each street had its speciality when it came to the sale of goods, with poultry sold on Glebe Street, crops and peat sold on Abbey Street, and so on. As with many places in the West of Ireland, the Great Famine hit the town hard. Almost a decade before the famine, the Poor Law Union of Ballinrobe founded a workhouse. It became overcrowded during the 1845 to 1849 period, with two thousand inmates at the worst point of the Famine.
Attractions Ballinrobe Ireland
Ballintubber Abbey - Claremorris
This 13th century abbey is unique, not only is it the only church in Ireland still in use which was founded by an Irish King, but it is also the one Irish church where for over 781 years Mass has been offered without a break. Its story is graphically told in a video documentary on show at the abbey. Founded in 1216 by the last King of Connaught, Cathal Crovdearg O'Connor, for the Canons Regular of St. Augustine order, the Abbey had large tracts of land in the district until the dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VII. Retreats, pilgrimages and tours are available today. The Celtic Furrow Visitors Centre provides guided tours of the region, tracing 5,000 years of Irish culture.
Céide Fields - Ballina
Ballycastle - 8 miles from Ballins. Beneath the wild boglands of North Mayo lies Ceide Fields, the most extensive stone age monument in the world; field systems, dwelling areas and megalithic tombs of 5,000 years ago. In addition, the wild flora of the bog is of international importance and is bounded by some of the most spectacular rock formations and cliffs in Ireland. The Visitor Centre houses displays and exhibitions in English and Irish.
Croagh Patrick - Westport - Westport
The Pilgrimage mountain of Croagh Patrick is located close to Wesport town. In 441 AD St. Patrick reached the summit of Croagh Patrick and fasted for 40 day. St. Patrick is also noted for banishing the snakes from Ireland. A wonderful experience and challenge on a fine day. Spectacular view of County Mayo. For info on Guided Tours of Croagh Partick
Doon - Archaeological Nature Peninsula - Cong
A designated Area of Scienific Interest, Accredited a National Heritage Area. Doon Promontory Fort, on Lough Carra, with sites from Late Bronze Age, enclosed in a spectacular landscape of mountain, lake and woodland, is one of the largest identified site of its type in Ireland. A self-guided Tour along a woodland trail from our earliest ancestors, through Bronze Age (2,000 B.C.), Iron Age (300 B.C.), Early Christian and Norman Times. A town noted for the filming of the Quiet Man, with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Many connections with the Quiet Man are on show. Also the location of Ashford Castle, a high quality hotel with private golf course.
Kiltimagh Museum - Kiltimagh
In the 1980s the Historical Society acquired the old Goods Store of Kiltimagh Railway Station and turned it into a Museum. Two old Railway Carriages were acquired to commemorate the thousands of our people who had had to emigrate, and these were incorporated into the Museum. Now the Museum houses many artifacts from our past, such as the Land League Banner, buried for safety in a bog for forty years, the instruments of the 19th century town band, items from Kiltimagh Lace School, Railway artifacts and many other items reflecting different aspects of our past.
